A hurricane is a violent wind storm that threatens shorelines (Pacific and Atlantic oceans) with flooding, excessive precipitation, and violent gusts of wind. A hurricane can be very deadly, so it is very important to know the storm and its properties. As you read this article, you will learn about hurricanes as a general topic and some specific examples, such as how the hurricane tragedy exposed the flaws of the U.S. government. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get Original Essay Hurricanes begin as tropical depressions when warm, humid air above the ocean rises and creates low pressure. Higher pressure enters it and creates hot air. The hot air rises and causes an air swirl. It forms clouds that gain strength from warm air rising from the ocean. When these clouds reach land, they are accompanied by high waves and strong winds. These cause the destruction of subject lands. Hurricanes form in the Pacific or Atlantic oceans. Many begin with depressions coming off the African coast. Hurricanes occur when the oceans warm during the summer months. In the North Atlantic, hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Hurricanes lose strength as they pass over land, because warm water is the main source of energy fueling the storm. Hurricanes are divided into 5 categories, 5 being the strongest and 1 being the weakest. A hurricane is classified into a category based on the speed of its winds. If a hurricane travels 74-95 mph, it is a Category 1 hurricane, 96-110 mph: Category 2, 111-130 mph: Category 3, 131-155 mph: Category 4 and over 250 mph: category 5. Parts of a hurricane are the eye, eyewall, spiral rainbands, and rain shield. The average diameter of a hurricane is 600 km (350 mi) and the average diameter of the eye (calm) is 30 km (18.5 mi). Hurricane Katrina began as a tropical depression over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005. Katrina then moved across South Florida as a Category 1 hurricane with limited deaths and flooding. Katrina continued on track and headed toward the Gulf of Mexico as it progressed into a Category 5 hurricane. On August 28, Katrina rapidly intensified and became a Category 5 by 7:00 a.m. – and the 4th hurricane the most intense Atlantic on record. By the time it hit New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mississippi, it had become a Category 3 hurricane. This information is displayed on timelines and diagrams. Katrina hit Georgia, Mississippi, New Orleans, Kentucky, Alabama, Cuba, Louisiana, West Virginia, Bahamas, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Florida and the Gulf Coast. Louisiana and Mississippi suffered the most, due to their vulnerability and crucial nature. New Orleans, in particular, suffered the most. A total of 1,577 people from Louisiana were killed in the hurricane. It was hit the hardest because New Orleans sits completely below sea level. This made it vulnerable to high waves and strong winds. Levees built to protect the city from flooding also broke, causing larger-than-expected flooding. A storm surge is a wind that constantly blows across the ocean surface so strong that it temporarily causes sea levels to rise around the affected area.