Hurricane Floyd Essay, Research Paper

Floyd

Hurricane Hur-ri-cane (n)

1. A tropical cyclone usually involving heavy rains

And winds exceeding 74 mph. (119 kph.)

From carib [huracan]

What is a hurricane? Encarta defines it as a tropical cyclone with winds up to 74 mph (119 kph.) To many people it means destruction. Hurricane Floyd caused tremendous destruction to America as well as set it back a few million. Stay with me as we track the storm.

Tropical Storm Floyd forms in Atlantic

Washington September 8, 1999 – The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported Tropical Storm Floyd, the sixth named storm of the season, formed about 800 miles east of the Leeward Islands. Floyd had maximum winds of 40 mph and was forecast to intensify to minimal hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. Tropical storm force winds extended up to 85 miles from the center of the storm.

The system moved west-northwest at 16 mph and forecasters expected Floyd to continue along this track for 72 hours. Floyd was in an area very favorable for development and satellite images indicated the system was strengthening. The center of the system was not yet well defined, but forecasters believed Floyd could reach major hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds of 112 mph or more after 72 hours.

Tropical Storm Floyd Continues to Intensify

Washington, September 9, 1999 — The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Tropical Storm Floyd was located about 450 miles east of the Leeward Islands. The strong tropical storm and had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. NHC Forecasters expected the system to reach minimal hurricane strength within the next 24 hours and thought it will be a strong Category II hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 109 mph within 72 hours. Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 115 miles from the center of the storm. Floyd moved toward the west-northwest at 15 mph and was expected to continue this motion. NHC expected Floyd to pass well north of the Leeward Islands.

Floyd Now a Hurricane

Washington, September 10, 1999 — National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Floyd to a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. As of 8:00 AM EDT, the system was located about 210 miles east-northeast of Barbuda in the northern Leeward Islands. Some of Floyd’s outer rain bands were already over part of the islands. Data from Air Force Hurricane Hunters flights indicated Floyd was strengthening and was forecasted to intensify to a Category III hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph by early Monday morning. Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 175 miles from the center of the storm. Floyd moved toward the west-northwest at 12 mph and forecasters expected it to continue along this path for the remainder of that day, keeping the center of the storm north of the Leeward Islands. However, they cautioned that any deviation to the left of the forecasted track would bring tropical storm conditions to the northern most islands of the northeastern Caribbean.

Hurricane Floyd at Category IV, Threatens Southeast U.S. Coast

Washington, September 13, 1999 — The National Hurricane Center reported Hurricane Floyd was a dangerous Category IV hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph. As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, Floyd was located 245 miles east of San Salvador in the Central Bahamas moving at 14 mph to the west. Hurricane force winds (75 mph and greater) extend outward from the center of the storm up to 105 miles. Tropical storm force winds (39 mph and greater) extended outward up to 290 miles from the center. Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft found Floyd’s minimum central pressure at 922 MB, a drop of 39 MB over 24 hours. NHC forecasters project Floyd could make landfall somewhere along the Southeast U.S. Coast from Florida’s east coast north to the Carolinas sometime between Wednesday and Thursday, depending on its exact track.

The NHC forecast called for Floyd to continue on its westerly track for the next 36 hours, then begin a gradual turn to the west-northwest. The rate of this turn was dependent upon the effect of a high-pressure ridge to the north. NHC posted hurricane warnings for the Northwest Bahamas, including the Abaco Islands, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence Island. A hurricane warning remained in effect for the Central Bahamas. A hurricane watch had been issued for the east Florida coast from south of Flagler Beach to Hallandale north of Miami. Tropical storm warnings stood in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas. Available emergency materials and supplies for immediate delivery were identified, including 250 various sizes of generators, 1,800 rolls of plastic sheeting and 1,400 tarps for roofing, 30,624 liters of bottled water, 16,000 blankets, 17,000 cots and 280,000 pounds of ice. Six Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and three Medical Support Teams were put on alert to provide potential health and medical services in Florida and the Carolinas. A mass care watch team for Florida was activated and teams for Georgia and the Carolinas placed on alert.

Cash Donations, Volunteers Sought To Help Hurricane Victims

Washington, September 16, 1999 — Voluntary organizations were seeking cash donations and volunteers to assist victims of Hurricane Floyd. Cash donations were especially helpful to victims. They allowed volunteer agencies to issue cash vouchers to victims so they can meet their needs. Volunteer agencies provide a wide variety of services after disasters, such as clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food.

Tropical Storm Floyd off New England Coast

Washington, September 17, 1999 — The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has downgraded Floyd to a tropical storm. As of 5 a.m. Floyd was located 25 miles west-southwest of Portland, Maine, moving northeast at 26 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 60 mph with higher gusts. Floyd was downgraded to a tropical storm at 5 p.m. that day.

To wrap things up…

Hurricane Floyd, like many other natural disasters was a very costly storm. This tropical cyclone they call Floyd developed in the Atlantic Ocean it grew into the stage of a hurricane. This hurricane slammed directly in to South Carolina and left his mark on its northern neighbor as well (North Carolina). The hurricane eventually died off, and drifted north. Personally I m afraid that hurricanes are going to threaten the northeastern seaboard as long as we keep polluting. Hurricanes fuel on warm water so when we pollute the harmful substance put in the air trap heat (greenhouse effect). This trapped heat makes the water warmer up north, so naturally hurricanes will become a real problem to big cities such as New York. I m not sure how that relates to Hurricane Floyd but I just thought this would be the essay to mention it in.

Sites: www.nhc.com/disasters/hurricane/floyd.htm

Copy right 1999

www.infospace.org.floyd/hurricane.htm

Copy right 1999

Springfield News Leader

September 15 1999

Weather Channel

Cable 3 September 16 1999

Encarta Encyclopedia 1999