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Map illustration: caption below

The number of hurricanes expected to occur during a 100-year period based on historical data—light blue area, 20 to 40; dark blue area, 40 to 60; red area, more than 60. Map not to scale. Source: the National Atlas and the USGS
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Natural Hazards - Hurricanes

Hurricanes bring destructive winds, storm surge, torrential rain, flooding, and tornadoes. A single storm can wreak havoc on coastal and inland communities and on natural areas over thousands of square miles.

In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma demonstrated the devastation that hurricanes can inflict and the importance of hurricane hazards research and preparedness.

More than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coast, and this number is increasing. Many of these areas, especially the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, will be in the direct path of future hurricanes. Hawaii is also vulnerable to hurricanes.

USGS Hurricane Related News (USGS Newsroom)

Media Advisory: Preparing Coastal Communities for Storms
Released: 4/8/2009 3:03:23 PM
Another Out of This World Success
April Science Picks -- Leads, Feeds and Story Seeds
Released: 4/3/2009
"Science in Action" Kicks Off in Reston
Released: 3/30/2009 3:30:00 PM
Climate Change, Natural Hazards, Land-Use Change: USGS at Annual Association of American Geographers Meeting
Released: 3/20/2009 6:24:12 PM
Price for USGS Topo Maps Rises Gently
Released: 3/16/2009 6:30:00 AM

View more news related to Hurricanes

NOAA: National Hurricane Center (Atlantic)

Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook
<br/> 000<br/> ABNT20 KNHC 010358<br/> TWOAT <br/> TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED<br/> NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL<br/> 700 PM EST SUN NOV 30 2008<br/> <br/> CORRECTED SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE HEADER TO READ MIADSAAT<br/> <br/> FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...<br/> <br/> AS THE 2008 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES ITS CONCLUSION...<br/> TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48<br/> HOURS.<br/> <br/> ISSUANCE OF THIS PRODUCT WILL RESUME ON 1 JUNE 2009. SHOULD ANY<br/> SIGNIFICANT DISTURBANCES DEVELOP DURING THE OFF-SEASON...SPECIAL<br/> TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENTS WOULD BE ISSUED...AS NEEDED.<br/> SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENTS CAN BE FOUND UNDER WMO<br/> HEADER WONT41 KNHC...AND UNDER AWIPS HEADER MIADSAAT.<br/> <br/> $$<br/> <br/> FORECASTER STEWART<br/> <br/> <br/> <br/>
There are no tropical cyclones at this time.
No tropical cyclones as of Thu, 07 May 2009 21:19:45 GMT

NOAA: National Hurricane Center (East Pacific)

East Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook
<br/> 000<br/> ABPZ20 KNHC 010552<br/> TWOEP <br/> TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK<br/> NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL<br/> 1000 PM PST SUN NOV 30 2008<br/> <br/> FOR THE EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC...EAST OF 140 DEGREES WEST LONGITUDE..<br/> <br/> AS THE 2008 EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES ITS<br/> CONCLUSION...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE<br/> NEXT 48 HOURS.<br/> <br/> ISSUANCE OF THIS PRODUCT WILL RESUME ON 15 MAY 2009. SHOULD ANY<br/> SIGNIFICANT DISTURBANCES DEVELOP DURING THE OFF-SEASON...SPECIAL<br/> TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENTS WOULD BE ISSUED...AS NEEDED.<br/> SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENTS CAN BE FOUND UNDER WMO<br/> HEADER WOPZ41 KNHC...AND UNDER AWIPS HEADER MIADSAEP.<br/> <br/> $$<br/> <br/> FORECASTER STEWART<br/> <br/> <br/> <br/>
There are no tropical cyclones at this time.
No tropical cyclones as of Thu, 07 May 2009 21:19:45 GMT

Highlighted Hurricane Resources

Select the next to each link to open that item in a new window.

Hurricane and Extreme Storm Studies
Investigating the extent and causes of coastal impacts of hurricanes and extreme storms on the coasts of the United States.
National Wetlands Research Center
The mission of National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) is to develop and disseminate scientific information needed for understanding the ecology and values of our Nation’s wetlands and for managing and restoring wetlands, coastal habitats, and associated plant and animal communities.
Hurricane Hazards—A National Threat
A fact sheet about hurricanes and the danger they pose to Nation.
Hurricane Related Podcasts: USGS CoreCast
Podcasts, from the USGS CoreCast, related to hurricanes.
Mapping Coastal Change Hazards
Providing information on the mapping of coastal hazards such as hurricanes.
USGS Responds to Hurricanes (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma)
The U.S. Geological Survey continues to mobilize equipment and personnel to gather the scientific data and information on the impact of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

USGS Storm Team

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Page Last Modified: Monday, September 15, 2008