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Hurricanes are tropical storms with winds of over 75 miles |
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per hour. They begin as thunderstorms that form over areas of the |
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ocean where the water temperature exceeds 81 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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The warmth and moisture in these regions provide the hurricane |
| (5) |
with its tremendous power, which explains why hurricanes quickly |
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weaken when they pass over cool water and dissipate soon after |
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they hit land. |
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Although hurricanes themselves are only a real concern to |
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coastal areas, they often give birth to tornadoes. These funnel |
| (10) |
clouds turn inland, leaving swaths of destruction in their wakes. |
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Tornadoes destroy power lines, damage homes and other property, |
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and are responsible for dozens of deaths every year. These |
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tragedies are becoming less common, however, as new weather |
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technology makes it easier to predict the formation of tornadoes |
| (15) |
and provide early warning to the areas that may be affected. |
