What is the wind speed and direction within a hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere?

Question

What is the wind speed and direction within a hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere?

Answer 1

The direction is in a circular motion because hurricanes spin clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and the winds have to be at least 74 m.p.h. or greater in order for it to be classified as a hurricane. The winds are measured on The Saffir-Simpson Scale (shown below):

Category1

Sustained winds 33–42 m/s 74–95 mph 64–82 kt 119–153 km/h

Storm surge 4–5 ft 1.2–1.5 m

Central pressure 28.94 inHg 980 mbar

Potential damage No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal flooding and minor pier damage.[5]

Example storms Bess (1974) – Jerry (1989) – Ismael (1995) – Danny (1997) – Gaston (2004)

Category2

Sustained winds 43–49 m/s 96–110 mph 83–95 kt 154–177 km/h

Storm surge 6–8 ft 1.8–2.4 m

Central pressure 28.50–28.91 inHg 965–979 mbar

Potential damage Some roofing material, door, and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, etc. Flooding damages piers and small craft in unprotected anchorages may break their moorings.[5]

Example storms Carol (1954) – Diana (1990) – Erin (1995) – Marty (2003) – Juan (2003)

Category3

Sustained winds 50–58 m/s 111–130 mph 96–113 kt 178–209 km/h

Storm surge 9–12 ft 2.7–3.7 m

Central pressure 27.91–28.47 inHg 945–964 mbar

Potential damage Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain may be flooded well inland.[5]

Example storms Alma (1966) – Alicia (1983) – Roxanne (1995) – Fran (1996) – Isidore (2002)

Category4

Sustained winds 59–69 m/s 131–155 mph 114–135 kt 210–249 km/h

Storm surge 13–18 ft 4.0–5.5 m

Central pressure 27.17–27.88 inHg 920–944 mbar

Potential damage More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland.[5]

Example storms "Galveston" (1900) – Hazel (1954) – Iniki (1992) – Iris (2001) – Charley (2004)

Category5

Sustained winds ≥70 m/s ≥156 mph ≥136 kt ≥250 km/h

Storm surge ≥19 ft ≥5.5 m

Central pressure <27.17 inHg <920 mbar

Potential damage Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required.[5]

Example storms "Labor Day" (1935) – "Mexico" (1959) – Camille (1969) – Gilbert (1988) – Andrew (1992)

Answer 2

Hurricane In Southern Hemisphere

Answer 3

Winds around a southern hemisphere hurricane our clockwise, however the storms will tend to move from east to west just like in the northern hemisphere. Hypothetically, hurricanes in the southern hemisphere can be just as strong as in the northern hemisphere (winds exceeding 155 MPH), however since sea-surface temperatures are not as warm in the formation areas, storms will typically not be as strong. Hurricanes typically form each season in the Southern Indian and Pacific Oceans and can strike Madagascar and Australia. In rare instances, hurricanes can form in the South Atlantic as Catarina did in 2004, but this was the only time on record.

Answer 4

The direction is clock-wise and about the same speeds as in the Northern, recorded up to 300+ MPH.

Answer 5

weather.com has a great hurricane section called hurricane central. You can track hurricanes and learn more about them. Here is the URL: weather.com/hurricanecentral