Eye of the Storm--A Hurricane Quiz

In 1900 the deadliest hurricane in United States history took more than 6,000 lives in which coastal city?

Charleston, South Carolina

Tampa, Florida

Galveston, Texas

In which year did the National Weather Service first use male names as well as female names to identify hurricanes?

1992

1979

1952

What’s the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

They’re different regional names for the same kind of storm.

A hurricane spins counterclockwise, while a typhoon spins clockwise.

A typhoon is not as strong as a hurricane.

According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, a tropical storm becomes a hurricane when the cyclone’s maximum sustained wind speeds exceed _______.

68 miles per hour

74 miles per hour

95 miles per hour

In October 1998 a hurricane devastated Nicaragua and Honduras, leaving at least 11,000 people dead and more than 2 million people homeless. What was this hurricane called?

Elena

Gilbert

Mitch

This hurricane, which destroyed tens of thousands of homes, was the most financially destructive hurricane (to date) in the history of the United States.

Camille

Andrew

Hugo

A “storm surge” is _______.

an electrical charge in the atmosphere that precedes the arrival of a hurricane.

a sudden increase in atmospheric pressure within the eye of a hurricane.

an abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane.

The “eye” of a hurricane is _______.

an area of relatively calm winds and fair weather found at the center of a hurricane.

the most destructive part of the hurricane.

a mythical area of peace and calm found at the center of a hurricane.

Etymologists believe the word hurricane may have been derived from _______.

“hurry cane,” a phrase used in the West Indies to describe the frenzied movement of sugarcane in the high winds of an advancing tropical storm.

the Taíno god of storms, Hurakán.

hurly-burly, a noisy and bustling activity.