RV HURRICANE SAFETY
UNDERSTANDING HURRICANE DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are courtesy of the National Hurricane Center website . They have a complete glossary , but these are some of the ones you will often hear when a hurricane is approaching .
HURRICANE :
A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind ( using the U . S . 1-minute average ) is 64 kt ( 74 mph or 119 km / hr ) or more .
HURRICANE WATCH : An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots ( 74 mph or 119 km / hr ) or higher are possible within the specified area . Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force , the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical storm-force winds .
HURRICANE WARNING :
An announcement that sustained winds of 64 knots ( 74 mph or 119 km / hr ) or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area . Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force , the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical storm-force winds . The warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and waves continue , even though winds may be less than hurricane force .
STORM SURGE : An abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm , and whose height is the difference between the observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the cyclone . Storm surge is usually estimated by subtracting the normal or astronomic high tide from the observed storm tide .
STORM SURGE WATCH :
The possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area , generally within 48 hours , in association with a hurricane or storm . The watch may be issued earlier when other conditions , such as the onset of tropical-storm-force winds are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for evacuations .
STORM SURGE WARNING :
The danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified area , generally within 36 hours , in association with a hurricane or storm . The warning may be issued earlier when other conditions , such as the onset of tropical-storm-force winds are expected to limit the time available to take protective actions for evacuations . The warning may also be issued for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but which could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas .
TROPICAL STORM WARNING : Tropical storm conditions ( sustained winds of 39 to
73 mph ) are expected within your area within 36 hours .
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