Weather Fast

Hurricanes and tropical storms wreak havoc in countries around the world, and it is important to understand the weather patterns they follow. When the patterns for a storm system are understood, it allows those living in at-risk areas to properly prepare. General patterns exist that hold true for decades, but many patterns shift from year to year, so it is important to keep up with current hurricane and tropical storm trends.

The first aspect to hurricane and tropical storm patterns is that they occur within the same range of dates each year. For those in North America, this time frame is from June to November, although the greatest storms generally strike in August or September. Larger patterns, which last for several years or decades, include atmospheric conditions, such as El Nino, Madden-Julian oscillations and Atlantic multi-decadal oscillations. Each year, hurricanes and tropical storms tend to follow certain paths, so that as the hurricane season progresses, patterns are more predictable.

Exploring the patterns associated with hurricanes and tropical storms is important because it allows coastal areas to properly prepare for storms. It is important to remember, however, that storms are never fully predictable and pose considerable risk. Basic preparations, such as understanding a storm's pattern, leads to better chances of acting appropriately.