Contents 1 Is the eye of a hurricane more powerful than the outer parts? 2 How long does it take for a hurricane to fully form in the ocean? 3 Is there a website where I can find long-range forecasts for two-weeks in advance for specific cities? 4 Where can you find what the weather was at a specific location at a specific time in the past? 5 How can there be 100% humidity when it’s not raining? And when it is raining is the humidity always 100%? 6 Is bottled water left from last year safe to use this hurricane season? 7 Has a major hurricane ever hit Broward County (home to Ft. Lauderdale)? 8 What are the best hurricane shutters?

Is the eye of a hurricane more powerful than the outer parts?

Technically, the weather in the eye of a hurricane is not bad. In an intense hurricane it is often completely calm. Just outside the eye, however, is the worst weather in a well-developed storm. This is called the eye wall. Outer bands can also have strong, gusty winds. In weaker storms, however, the eye wall might not be developed and the strongest winds can occur well away from the center.

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How long does it take for a hurricane to fully form in the ocean?

It varies from storm to storm. On average, it takes a tropical wave about a week to move across the Atlantic. Tropical waves are the seeds that hurricanes grow from. If the atmospheric conditions are perfect, the hurricane can develop well east of the Lesser Antilles. Most often, however, the waves don't encounter favorable conditions until much further west. On occasion, tropical depressions have turned into hurricanes in one day.

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Is there a website where I can find long-range forecasts for two-weeks in advance for specific cities?

If forecasts could be made that far in advance, you would see them on TV. Beyond about five days ahead, the details of weather forecasts become very unreliable. Sometimes the weather is in a simple pattern and future forecasts are relatively easy. In the winter, however, when things move fast, we don’t have the skill to forecast far in advance. If you go to www.wunderground.com or www.nws.noaa.gov you can get a 7-day forecast for any city produced by the National Weather Service, but the accuracy beyond day three deteriorates significantly.

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Where can you find what the weather was at a specific location at a specific time in the past?

The official weather archives for the U.S. is the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville. For a small charge they will send you anything. Their address is www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Often, however, you can find what you need at www.wunderground.com. Enter your city. Then under “Historical Conditions” you can put in the date you want to know about. You’ll get weather observations from your nearest airport. After September 1, 2000 you can get the hour-by-hour reports.

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How can there be 100% humidity when it’s not raining? And when it is raining is the humidity always 100%?

The short answer is that the weather happens above us in the atmosphere, not at the earth's surface where we are measuring the humidity. If the humidity is too low (which doesn’t happen often in the South), rain can evaporate before it reaches the ground. This phenomenon is called virga. If it rains for a long time, indeed the air at the surface of the earth moistens up, and might eventually reach 100%.

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Is bottled water left from last year safe to use this hurricane season?

No, not necessarily. Health experts normally suggest not keeping water past one hurricane season. There is a chance that bacteria may grow in the bottle and make you sick. You can, however, keep the bottles and use them with tap water. Just wash them out with a little bleach (non-flavored). Then be sure they are dry when you store them, which will be easy because they are so light. See Page 128 for more information.

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Has a major hurricane ever hit Broward County (home to Ft. Lauderdale)?

In the last 100 years Broward was on the edge of the monster Great Miami Hurricane in 1926 (major damage was done in the southern half of the county), took a direct hit from a Category 4 storm in 1947, and had significant effect from a Category 3 storm in 1950. In 1964, 1999, and of course 2005 there were significant hurricane effects, but they weren’t what we call “major” hurricanes, defined as Category 3 and above on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

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What are the best hurricane shutters?

In general, the best hurricane shutters have the Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, meaning they have been tested to rigourous standards. Any of these shutters systems, if they are installed properly, are very strong. That means that the most important thing is to get shutters that you can efficiently close or put up when the storm is coming. Whether you decide on roll-downs, panels, or other styles, there is likely a strong shutter for you.

Another thought. Unscrupulous salesmen might sell you shutters that don’t pass the tough Miami-Dade rules. They will say, “You don’t need a permit”. Yes you do. That’s how you can be sure that you are getting what you paid for, that the shutters meet the current building code, and that they are installed right. If someone encourages you to skip the permit, be suspicious.

There is much more on shutters and the alternatives beginning on Page 143.