CYCLONES, HURRICANES, TYPHOONS |
| A HURRICANE travels anti-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. |
| A CYCLONE travels clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. |
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| Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones occur in the Intertropical Convergence Zone between 20 degrees North and 20 degrees South of the Equator. |
| They form when the sea surface temperatures rise above 27 degrees Celsius (80 F) and a low pressure of air develops into a storm. Water vapours from the warm sea are drawn into the areas of low pressure. They rise and condense into banks of clouds intensifying the inward flow of air. The violent updrafts created, suck in more warm, humid air. Energy is released in torrential rain downpours and in winds up to 300 km/h (190 mph). Clouds spiral around the "eye" which is in the centre of the storm where the skies are calm. |
 The Formation of a Storm |
| These destructive storms will occur at any time during the period slightly before to slightly after Summer. The warning systems cannot describe the damage that may occur. |
