Why Is The Eye Of The Storm So Dangerous?

You’ve heard about the eye of the hurricane but what do you know about it.  Read on to find out more.

Is the eye of the hurricane dangerous?

Yes, sometimes.  In a hurricane on land, the eye of the storm is an area of relatively calm weather surrounded by powerful winds.  However, on water, the eye of the storm is very dangerous because of the high winds and waves. 

Severe weather near the eye of a hurricane can be a life-threatening situation, but a powerful hurricane has little effect on the eye itself.  It is usually safe to stay near the eye, but it can be dangerous to get too close–even by a matter of feet.  Because of this, people often confuse the eye with the tropical eye, which appears at night when there is no wind and there are no clouds.  You should never go to it.

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Why Is The Eye Of The Hurricane So Dangerous?

The eye of the hurricane is dangerous because it is not dangerous.  There are no winds. It’s very calm. The eye of the storm is calm because the air there has fallen out of the storm.  Winds can’t get through because there are no clouds or rain to weaken them.  Instead, there are high winds and waves.

The only way to stay safe in an eye is to get away from it if you know it will be possible to do this before you get too close.  If you have a choice between being in the eye and being in a hurricane’s outer bands, go in the outer bands. If you can see a safe spot in a hurricane with a pair of binoculars, go there.  The eye is the only place where you cannot see weather conditions with your eyes, so it is important to watch radar and get expert advice from people who know what they are talking about before going into an eye.

What Is The Eye Of The Hurricane?

The eye is the calm center of a hurricane where air pressure is low, winds are light, and visibility can be up to 30 miles.  The diameter of the eye wall can be 20% longer than that of the hurricane’s diameter.  The wind in the eye wall blows generally in a clockwise direction (in the Northern Hemisphere), and in a counterclockwise (in the Southern Hemisphere).

What Is The Eye Wall Of A Hurricane?

The eye wall is a ring of storms in a hurricane that surrounds the calm center.  Winds within the eye wall blow in a steady direction, either clockwise (in the Northern Hemisphere) or counterclockwise (in the Southern Hemisphere).  The diameter of the eye wall is generally about 10% that of the diameter of the hurricane.  It extends to 30 kilometers from its center.

What Is It Like Inside The Eye Of The Hurricane?

It is very calm and quiet because there are no strong winds like there are in the eye wall.  The only wind you will feel is the gentle breeze blowing against your face.  The water will be flat and it will be hard to see where it ends and the sky begins because the horizon disappears.

However, if you are on the water in the eye , there are still dangers.  The winds will be much stronger than they appear because there is no land to block the winds’ way.  Even if you are far from the eye, you can still be caught in a storm surge or waves that come into the area where the hurricane is supposed to be.  As you get closer to the eye, it will get more and more dangerous because of strong winds and storm surges.

Does The Eye Of A Hurricane Consist Of Dry Subsiding Air?

Yes.  You can tell that the eye of a hurricane is very calm because there is neither rain nor clouds, and the sky appears clear.  The air in and around the eye of a hurricane is dry and warm. At about an altitude of 16 kilometers (10 miles) above sea level, temperatures are normally 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).

Is The Eye Of A Hurricane Calm?

Yes.  The eye of a hurricane is the calmest part of the storm. The effect is created by low convection currents. Pressure in the eye is usually 8 – 10% lower than the pressure outside the eye wall.

Is The Eye Of A Hurricane Warm?

The warmest air in a hurricane is found in the eyewall, which is not typically located in the center of a hurricane.  As you move into this warm air, it will feel humid and heavy with moisture.

How Long Does The Eye Of A Hurricane Last?

The eye of a storm generally has the longest life of the storm.  It usually lasts for 30-60 minutes after the eye moves out of the storm. The wind speeds drop rapidly outside the eye, and the hurricane no longer has an eye wall.

Should I Get Out Of The Hurricane’s Eye If It Is Safe?

If it is safe to do so, yes.  However , there are some circumstances that make it unsafe to get out of an eye.

Can A Hurricane Have Two Eyes?

Yes.  When the eye wall breaks off from the main eyewall, it can form another smaller eye wall. The smaller one will eventually move out of the area and make room for the larger one to develop.

Another way is when two storms merge into one another.  This whole process is called a merger. It can happen in the eye of the storm, when two storms move into each other, or in the eyewall when two storms merge into one.

Conclusion

Is the eye of the hurricane dangerous? Yes, sometimes. The safest place in a hurricane is always outside of it. However, staying in an eye can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. Stay away from the inner part of an eye when you can’t see where you are going with radar or when it is too dangerous to get out.

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