A hurricane is a severe tropical storm, whose winds exceed 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour) and marked by extremely low barometric pressure. Hurricanes originate over the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, because high sea surface temperatures are essential to their formation. race journal

The Atlantic hurricane season which begins June 1, officially ended on November 30. Phew!

Hurricane Meteorology Guide sponsored by the University of Illinois, is an older website with information that remains relevant. This site provides a sequence of modules that discuss storm mechanics and structure, stages of development, and global activity. A helpful pop-up glossary of terms appears throughout the text in this site. Appropriate for grade levels 9-12 and general audiences.

A Fierce Force of Nature sponsored by NASA, this is a fun, interactive site that uses animation to illustrate the formation of hurricanes. Learn about the anatomy of a hurricane, seasons, remote sensing, classifying, and the dangers associated with these fierce storms. A page of links takes you to more hurricane resources. A great site appropriate for grade levels 5-12 and general audiences.

Hurricane Online Exhibit sponsored by the Miami Museum of Science is another fun interactive site. This site is appropriate for younger audiences and offers a variety of classroom activities including building your own weather instruments, an interactive storm tracking activity, and encourages students to share their personal severe storm experiences. Appropriate for grade levels 3-8.

Hurricane Hunters This site is managed by the non-profit Hurricane Hunter Association and offers a variety of media that illustrate how these brave pilots and crew fly into the eye of hurricanes to study the storms. You'll find movies, photos, and information about storms. Appropriate for grade levels 5-12 and general audiences.