SECTION 4: RISK ASSESSMENT
4.5.6 HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM HAZARD BACKGROUND
Hurricanes and tropical storms are classified as cyclones and defined as any closed circulation developing around a low-pressure center in which the winds rotate counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (or clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere) and whose diameter averages 10 to 30 miles across. A tropical cyclone refers to any such circulation that develops over tropical waters. Tropical cyclones act as a “safety - valve,” limiting the continued build -up of heat and energy in tropical regions by maintaining the atmospheric heat and moisture balance between the tropics and the pole-ward latitudes. The primary damaging forces associated with these storms are high-level sustained winds, heavy precipitation, and tornadoes. The key energy source for a tropical cyclone is the release of latent heat from the condensation of warm water. Their formation requires a low-pressure disturbance, warm sea surface temperature, rotational force from the spinning of the earth, and the absence of wind shear in the lowest 50,000 feet of the atmosphere. The majority of hurricanes and tropical storms form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico during the official Atlantic hurricane season, which encompasses the months of June through November. The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is in early to mid-September and the average number of storms that reach hurricane intensity per year in the Atlantic basin is about six. As an incipient hurricane develops, barometric pressure (measured in millibars or inches) at its center falls and winds increase. If the atmospheric and oceanic conditions are favorable, it can intensify into a tropical depression. When maximum sustained winds reach or exceed 39 miles per hour, the system is designated a tropical storm, given a name, and is closely monitored by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. When sustained winds reach or exceed 74 miles per hour the storm is deemed a hurricane.
Warning Time: 1 – More than 24 hours
Duration: 2 – Less than 24 hours LOCATION
Hurricanes and tropical storms can occur anywhere within the Wake County planning area. While coastal areas are most vulnerable to hurricanes, their wind and rain impacts can be felt hundreds of miles inland. EXTENT Hurricane intensity is classified by the Saffir-Simpson Scale (Table 4.82), which rates hurricane intensity on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most intense. Table 4.82 – Saffir-Simpson Scale
Maximum Sustained Wind Speed (MPH)
Category
Types of Damage
Very dangerous winds will produce some damage; Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.
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Wake County, NC Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
WSP June 2024 Page 158
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