National Hurricane Preparation Week: Here are some highlights

Text and photo by Peter Vankevich

Those who live on the outer banks and visit them are aware of the effects of important storms that can occur in every season. But attention is mainly focused on the Atlantic Hurricane season, which begins on June 1st and runs until November 30th.

The National Weather Service and the Ministry of Public Security in North Carolina have teamed up to bring a hurricane safety campaign to all residents of North Carolina, which is part of the National Hurricane Preparedness Week from May 4, 2025.

Detailed information on your website

On Sunday you know your risk: water & wind
Prepare/know your zone/storm surge on Monday before the hurricane season
Tuesday understand forecast information/strong winds
Wednesday in motion when a storm threatens/inland flooding
Thursdays remain protected during storms/tornados
On Fridays Caution after storms/rip flows
Saturday is taking measures today

At this time of year, several forecasts are published by weather services, institutions and meteorologists in relation to storm activity with the number of expected hurricanes and tropical cyclones.

These forecasts take into account several factors that are primarily the following:

Sea surface temperature. Water above 80 ° F provides the energy required for storm formation.

Atmospheric conditions. Side gorge, which relates to changes in wind speed, direction and height, can either improve or inhibit storm development. Low wind shear favors hurricane training, while strong wind shear can disturb an up -and -coming storm.

Moisture values. A damp atmosphere supports storm growth while dry air can weaken or drain storms.

Climate pattern. Two of the best known are El Niño and La Niña, who can affect the global weather patterns. El Niño refers to the periodic warming of the sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. This phenomenon usually occurs every few years and can take nine months to two years. During an El Niño event, warmer waters can interfere with normal weather patterns, which often leads to increased precipitation in the southern United States.

La Niña, on the other hand, is characterized by cooler sea surface temperatures in the same regions of the Pacific. It can also take several months. La Niña tends to cause drier conditions in the southern USA

East North America is currently under an enso-neutral weather pattern, which means that neither El Niño niña conditions are available.

These are the names assigned to the Atlantic Hurricane season 2025

Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, van and Wendy.

Do you know the risks to the outer banks

The most active months for tropical systems in North Carolina are August, September and October. However, hurricanes already influenced our state in May and only in November. The tropical top activity usually occurs in a period of six weeks from mid -August to the end of September. During this time, the Carolinas can experience several hurricanes or tropical storms within a few weeks.

While hurricanes are the greatest threat to life and property, tropical storms and tropical depression can also be devastating. The primary dangers of tropical hurricanes (which include tropical depression, tropical storms and hurricanes) are the flooding of storm surge, the floods in the country through heavy rains, destructive winds, tornados and high surf and crack streams.

Flood Is water that is pushed to the shore by winds that whirl around the storm and historically caused the greatest loss of life in the hurricanes. This increase in water levels can lead to severe floods in coastal areas that immerse yourself in whole areas, damage buildings and rinse roads. Sturm flood can drive several miles inland, especially along bays, rivers and floors.

flooding From the extreme rainfall that a hurricane can bring, it has also proven to be very fatal, both over a longer period of time and very short -term fall floods. Houses and companies could flood, and flooded roads could make travel and evacuations difficult and a potentially fatal danger for those in vehicles or on foot. Floods can also contain harmful bacteria, chemicals, wild animals and other dangerous objects. Extreme rain of hurricanes can even flood flood surfaces that are usually not susceptible to floods. Floods can take hundreds of miles in the interior and remain several days after a storm.

Hurricane wind Can damage houses and other buildings that extend from moderately to catastrophic depending on the wind speed and structural integrity. Wind damage can lead to large areas with electricity and communication failures and trees and make the streets impassable due to ruins. Signs, roofing material and other remaining objects can become flying rockets during the hurricanes. Mobile homes are particularly susceptible to wind damage.

• Hurricanes and tropical storms can also produce Tornados. These tornadoes most often occur in thunderstorms that are far from the center of the hurricane in rain bands. However, they can also occur near the weaning of the eyes.

• Waves from distant storms can be fatal RIP currents and rough surf Very far away on beaches. Good weather on the beach itself does not mean that the ocean is safe. Storms hundreds of miles in front of the outer banks have severe overcoings and strands.

Do not only concentrate on the category of the hurricane

The Hurricane Windskala Saffir Simpson is a classification system with which the intensity of the hurricanes is evaluated on the basis of its ongoing wind speeds. This scale ranges from category 1 to category 5.

It helps to communicate and flood the possible damage that a hurricane can cause, which makes it easier for the communities to effectively prepare and react.

Understand the categories

Category 1 (74-95 miles per hour): minimal damage, with some damage to well-constructed houses and power outages that take a few days until a week.

Category 2 (96-110 miles per hour): Medium-heavy damage, including considerable damage to roof and siding as well as possible important power outages that could take weeks.

Category 3 (111-129 miles per hour): Extensive damage with many houses with serious structural damage, which led to a high risk of injuries or deaths due to aircraft ruins.

Category 4 (130-156 miles per hour): catastrophic damage that causes houses to cause serious damage, with most of the trees for weeks or months and taking power outages.

Category 5 (157 miles per hour and UP): Complete destruction, in which a large percentage of framed houses is destroyed and the total loss loss is expected over a longer period of time.

This scale does not tell you about all the effects that a hurricane can produce, e.g.

Water makes up 90% of direct deaths from tropical systems, both out of storm surge and flooded rain. NWS says that he should pay attention to all the effects of a storm and not just on the category. The hurricane Dorian was “only” a category 1 when he hit Ocracoke.