Q 01/05

Hurricanes need lots of energy. What do they form over?

A) Cold mountains

B) Dry deserts

C) Frozen lakes

D) Warm ocean water

Answer · why

D) Warm ocean water

The sea surface usually needs to be about 27 degrees Celsius (81 F) or warmer for a storm to grow.

Q 02/05

Which way do hurricane winds spin in the Northern Hemisphere?

A) Clockwise

B) Straight up

C) They do not spin

D) Counterclockwise

Answer · why

D) Counterclockwise

South of the equator they spin the other way, clockwise, because of the Earth's rotation.

Q 03/05

What is the calm center of a hurricane called?

A) The heart

B) The hole

C) The core

D) The eye

Answer · why

D) The eye

It is usually 30 to 65 kilometres across and can be sunny while wild weather rages all around it.

Q 04/05

Where in a hurricane are the very strongest winds found?

A) In the eyewall

B) In the eye

C) At the outer edge

D) High above the clouds

Answer · why

A) In the eyewall

The eyewall is a ring of towering thunderstorms that surrounds the calm eye.

Q 05/05

Roughly how wide is a typical hurricane eye?

A) 1 to 2 kilometres

B) 400 to 500 kilometres

C) 5 to 10 metres

D) 30 to 65 kilometres

Answer · why

D) 30 to 65 kilometres

Hurricane Wilma's eye once shrank to a record 3.7 kilometres, smaller than many towns.