Hurricanes

HurricaneA hurricane is a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. Hurricane winds blow in a large spiral around a relative calm center known as the "eye." The "eye" is generally 20 to 30 miles wide, and the storm may extend outward 400 miles. As a hurricane nears land, it can bring heavy rains, high winds, and storm surges. The hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30 with the peak of the season being August and September. While the incident of a hurricane is mostly a coastal event, Stokes County has in the past and could experience in the future, the remnants of hurricanes, that being Tropical Storms and Tropical Depressions.

  • A Tropical Depression is a organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation with maximum sustained winds of 38mph or less.
  • A Tropical Storm is a organized system of severe thunderstorms with a defined circulation and sustained winds of 39mph to 73mph.

Both of these systems could bring severe weather, including flash flooding, and tornadoes.

For safety tips, review those located on the Flash Flooding and Tornadoes page.

For more information on Hurricanes you can visit the National Hurricane Center website by Clicking Here