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Call for questions: HURRICANES (Patreon)

Published:
2025-07-16 01:07:55
Imported:
2026-06

Content

It's the Atlantic hurricane season -- time to do an episode on tropical storms, cyclones and hurricanes. I'll be talking to a research meteorologist who can explain to us the hazards, variabilities, evolutions, and behavior of hurricane weather phenomena. Post all your hurricane questions in the comments!

Deadline: Friday, July 18 at 3pm PST

Comments

Katie M

First time question asker: What makes the atlantic ocean the perfect place for hurricanes and tropical storms to occur?

Rayna

As a Floridian I would love someone to talk about the critical importance of mangroves in disaster prevention

RJ Doidge

Is it true that they look similar to a tornado in the way they rotate? Is it that a tornado forms on land and a hurricane over water? Flim flam?

Andrea Ligocki

First-time question-asker! How are hurricanes named?

Raja

What's the first record of a hurricane and when did they start getting names?

Zed Shirogane

What’s the wildest thing scientists have done to get a recording for a hurricane? I’ve heard some fly on airplanes straight into the eye of the storm and out to get readings. Anything crazy you or colleagues have done to get that sweet sweet data?

Madeline Kenerly

First time question asker! Why is the eye wall of a hurricane so dangerous? Can a hurricane not have an eye?

Jess EyeballSurgeon

Could a sharknado actually happen?? Do sea creatures get sucked up into them?

Nicole S

We had a very damaging derecho in Ottawa in 2023 and I still don’t quite understand what a derecho is! Would love an explanation. (First time question asker!)

Batty

One of my speech kiddos (7 years old) wants to know: What’s the difference between a hurricane and a cyclone?

Andie Corcoran

How are hurricanes predicted, and what determines their level of danger/destruction?

Adam Foote

Could you get a "cold" hurricane? One where there's still an eye and high winds but instead of a foot of rain you get like 6 feet of snow? As someone who lives with Lake-Effect Snow this is a mild nightmare for me

Chris Lipford

What can you tell us about the “Hurricane Hunters” and the dropsondes they drop into the storms? I had a hand in developing the release process from the WC-130s, but I don’t know anything about the actual systems and what they do.

Keely Chavez

Argh! Why did they let Cloudsat die and what have they got to replace it?

Will

Can you explain El Niño/La Niña and why they matter?

Jo

What an exciting topic! Here are my questions ~ 1. Why do hurricanes mostly form in the Atlantic? 2. Who gets to pick the names for hurricanes? And my husband wants to know if it will ever be possible for us to develop tech and methods to decrease the power of a hurricane?

Lucas

How come hurricanes can't cross the equator?

Rachael Lemont

Is it true that most of the damage from hurricanes is from the tornadoes that are part of them? And who makes up these names?

Chris Lipford

Why don’t they ever cross the equator? Is it just the coriolis effect, or is there more going on?

Maddy Julian

Hi, first time question asker and life time Floridian here! Im wondering how screwed we are this hurricane season because of the funding cuts to the NOAA/lack of satellite data

Chris Lipford

Does anything besides geographic location set them apart from “monsoons?”

RG

Aware of different names based on geographic location - cyclones, typhoons, hurricanes - but wondering if the classification systems are similar/the same. For example: a category 4 hurricane = category 4 cyclone? Or do different countries measure and classify differently?

Michael Crosa

First time question asker: Seems like at least once a year there’s a clip of a weather reporter getting really emotional about the risks of the next hurricane pleading with the public to evacuate, but then the hurricane fizzles out. I understand that predictions aren’t perfect but how can we as the general public discern genuine concern from the film flam?

Wendy Miller

With climate changing/warming waters are hurricanes forming farther from the equator?

LightBrownPillow

How do hurricanes in other parts of the world (Indian ocean, north & south Pacific) compare to north Atlantic hurricanes for strength/quantity/duration/etc? Why does the southern Atlantic ocean produce almost no hurricanes?

Lucas

Hypothetically, what kind of tech would we need to have to artificially weaken hurricanes before they make landfall?

clover.ausrine

Is the eye of the hurricane really quiet, or did Lin Manuel Miranda lie to us?

Jeanette-o-saur

Are tornadoes and plow winds (non-twisty ones) caused by the same type of weather? Why causes the wind to blow straight rather than spiral?

Nicky G

Why don't hurricane cross the equator? 🌀

Megan hesselink

Talk to me about the time the US wanted to launch nuclear bombs into hurricanes to weaken them.

Lauren Cooper

Could there ever be a cold weather "hurricane" like in Day After Tomorrow?

Adam Foote

5 minutes later I realized this is essentially the plot of one of "The Day After Tomorrow", but my question stands!

Felix Lasselle

Is there a way to theoretically harness the wind energy from hurricanes?

Amanda McClendon

What's the difference between Atlantic hurricanes and Pacific monsoons? Is it just geography or is there something else happening there?

Emily Akin

Oh shit *cracks knuckles in Texas* why aren’t the energy companies here in Houston more prepared? Hurricane Beryl last year was brutal and it was only a cat 1.

Annmarie Everhart

Is it possible for hurricanes to strengthen over land if the conditions are optimal? What conditions would be optimal for this to occur?

Kelly Walker

My understanding is that our planet needs these big storms to dissipate energy. What are all the ways we've tried to 'power down' or stop a storm and, if we were able to stop them all, what would happen then?

Brian Scott

Has anyone one ever studied biographic distribution of microbes (or other small critters) due to hurricanes? If not, sign me up!

Mykenzie King

I grew up on the nature coast of Florida so I am well versed in Hurricanes but, I did want to know about wild life and sea creatures getting swept up into the storms or is that flim flam?

Jeanette-o-saur

I have the perception that tornadoes develop quickly and are harder to track than hurricanes. Is that correct? Do we have decent tornado tracking tools (I assume tornado alley is more advanced given the number of storms)?

Seán Thomas Kane

Are the typical paths of hurricanes adapting to climate change?

Ashley Bower

Not a first time question asker but question never been asked on show. What kind of impacts do hurricanes have on oceanic and coastal ecosystems, and what does recovery look like for these ecosystems?

Tiedyeislife

With hurricanes how do they get more powerful as they’re moving?, And does that power tell us how far inland they will go?

Dave Brewer

Is there a difference in the amount of storm activity between the northern and southern hemispheres? If so, why?

Jeanette-o-saur

I'd really like to hear the weather control conspiracies addressed. I know we have tried all sorts of things to stop and worsen storms etc. What things worked and under what conditions? Which ones utterly failed? What weather controls are flim flam?

scampneoroxy

First time question asker, giving up my first time question for my WIFE, fascinated by all things Weather, who tracks incoming storms delightedly and loves learning and explaining why they are doing what they're doing to me-- they asked: Why is it called "the eye" when it looks like a much more obvious piece of anatomy?" -Mariana, asking for Cam .....i love them so much.

Dave Brewer

What's the longest-lasting storm on record?

Brianne Roberts

How likely are we to have a higher category? Is it more likely that the scale will change? As a lifelong Floridian who recently moved to Wisconsin, I don’t feel like most people really respect the category classifications and respond more to how far reaching and severe the potential damage is. A scale that takes into account the sustained winds but also the distance from the eye that those winds are recorded could be more effective. But people are also stubborn and if they don’t want to leave, they won’t leave, despite the risk to rescue personnel to save them when the worst happens.

JillyDoogs

How does climate change impact Hurricanes? - Tattooed Ologies logo on my body. ☺️

Kai Pie

How do hurricanes ‘decide’ where to go? What influences their path? What happens if two hurricanes meet each other? (Do they fight.. combine forces..collaborate.. divide and conquer/prosper???)

Mini Minnie

Ever read Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling?

Lynette Dávila

What is that feeling you get when the hurricane is coming? A heat that infiltrate your soul. The air is thick.

Tessa Lew

Where do hurricanes get their name? Is it possible for my name to be a future hurricane?

Alexandra Roth

What is this deal with the halcyon eye? Is it literary exaggeration, or does everything really fall quiet and people think the storm is over?

Brittany Kaufman

Is there any way to start predicting the rapid intensification that’s becoming more common?

Brianne Roberts

Thought of another one. I know that there are massive ecological disturbances after hurricanes when salt and fresh water get where they weren’t meant to be, among other things, but has there been research into the environmental impacts of hurricanes disrupting pollution and spreading it further? I’m specifically thinking about the nasty effects of sugar cane harvesting and phosphate mining and how a hurricane flooding those areas or picking up the pollutants could impact such larger areas.

e-rennebee

first time q asker!!! my skeptical but curious father doesn’t believe me but i swear ive heard that certain animals basically have a hurricane sixth sense and can detect them. is this true!?!? what the hell kinda science thing makes this happen??

Isabelle Leclerc

With increased understanding about that contribute to hurricane formation and growth, how are predictory models evolving? Are they more accurate, and will there conceivably be a time where we can accurately predict a hurricane's formation, strength and path?

Jason Ray

Are west coast hurricanes going to become more common?

Ara Victor

Do hurricanes only happen near coastlines? How far inland can they get?

mish the fish

what are some hurricane horror stories? worst case scenario

Ara Victor

Ooh and is "the eye of the storm" really that quiet and peaceful? Can you see blue sky surrounded by a wall of clouds?

Elizabeth Litwin

Have we noticed eyewall replacement cycles speeding up due to climate change?

e-rennebee

first time q asker!! i took a uni course on natural disasters (side quest for my finance degree) and the only thing i really remember is that tornadoes are faster than hurricanes but i don’t think we were told why. why is this?? tornado small, hurricane big…so..???

Kittens8myhomework

I grew up on Sanibel Island and have lived in and around SWFL for 27 years (now in the safe and dry Midwest). I've survived many destructive hurricanes while living in SWFL, the most recent being hurricane Ian (CAT 4, but 2 mph away from being a CAT 5 at time of landfall) in 2022, which completely devastated our area. In 2017 there was Irma (CAT 4), in 2005 & 2004 we had Wilma & Charley, CAT 3s and 4s. Every hurricane and its subsequent damage has been different. Sometimes it's the wind and sometimes it's the storm surge (which is what took so many people by surprise during Ian in 2022), and every storm we felt like we had to prepare for the unexpected. Why are hurricanes so variable in the types of destruction they cause when they make landfall? Additionally, SWFL and the Big Bend area of FL seem to have the majority of direct hits for the state. What about the geology of FL make those areas so prone to getting direct hits?

e-rennebee

first time q asker!!! is it even remotely possible for a hurricane to hit the middle of the continent?? i’m from the prairies and hurricanes have never been a concern for me but with climate change i’m wondering if i should add this to my list of possible disasters to pack my to go bag for

e-rennebee

first time q asker!! my husband is british and im canadian and he would like to know why different parts of the world calls hurricanes different things. apparently in britain they’re called storms and typhoons in asia, why????

Kim Greiner

What do animals do during hurricanes? I heard they can sense them before us, but do they just run inland?? I get so sad thinking about all the bugs and animals in peril :(

Brianna L

It makes sense for tropical storms to be named, since they are generally a singular low pressure system that gets tracked across the ocean and is monitored by multiple agencies in multiple countries. How do you feel about the recent trend of naming winter storm systems?

Emmett M Wald

What causes the still spot that forms at the eye of a hurricane? Does the intensity of the hurricane affect the size of the eye?

Meagan Walker

Is it really much calmer in the eye of the storm?

Meagan Walker

Do they behave differently if they’re hurricanes or typhoons or cyclones?

Meagan Walker

What’s the smallest diameter a hurricane can be?

Emily Knudsen

(Hi - Eager first-time question asker here!) How will cuts to the National Weather Service impact our ability to track hurricanes? What other credible sources of information can we use to be prepared if we can't rely on that anymore?

Ninja Squirrel

Is it true that hurricanes/typhoons rotate clockwise in one hemisphere and counter clockwise in the other? If so, why?

Drew J

How large can the eye get and why is it so calm inside of the eye? How dangerous is it inside of the eye?

Madeliene Fox

Okay, I LOVE LOVE LOVE storms! I think they are so fascinating and I love how much power and force they have!

Katie Hammond

I've heard that US hurricanes originate in northern Africa and move across the Atlantic to get here. Are there other systems like this, where one part of the globe sends weather to another? What sustains the giant storms on other planets that last for decades? Why doesn't earth have any of these?

Madeliene Fox

1st Question asked; As climate continues change continues to shift our weather patterns do we expect more hurricanes to move more inland?

Madeliene Fox

Why are there so many hurricane models IE; European etc

Madeliene Fox

Is there anywhere in the world a hurricane/ cyclone has trouble forming?

Ninja Squirrel

Why don't we see hurricanes on the west coast of the US?

Madeliene Fox

1st time question asker: What does our Ologist think of the Waffle House Index when it comes to hurricanes?

Channon Koty

My 10 yr old future Meteorologist would like to know if all hurricanes have the potential to spawn tornadoes, or is that only something to worry about in stronger storms?

noodle

How do the Black Witch Moth get into the eyes of hurricanes?

Pierre Gregoire

Any hurricane/typhoons south of the equator? Do they rotate in reverse like the toilets lol.

Erin White

How come they have different names in different places? (Australians call them something else I think?) And what are all the different names?

Erin White

I've heard recently our ocean circulation is getting all fucked up by climate change. How is this going to affect hurricanes?

Reilly

What’s the oldest recorded evidence of a hurricane? Do we know if there were certain periods of history where they were worse or better?

Ali M

I really love your questions!!!

Meaghan Ratcliffe

why are they named after people names? why not animals or fruits or literally anything else?

joshua.yyz

Why can't hurricanes cross the equator?

Ali M

What do we most often get wrong about hurricanes? Cyclones?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: How are the names picked? Who gets to do that?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: How far in advance can meteorologists predict a hurricane?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: Do any animals sense a hurricane coming on?

A Baker

Is there a specific place a lot of hurricanes originated and is there a reason why?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: We’re in Washington, why aren’t there hurricanes over here?

A Baker

With climate change how far north are we potentially going to see hurricane?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: How do people hurricane-proof their land/house?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: Is path prediction super accurate?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: What’s the fastest one has ever moved?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: Do they go clockwise and counterclockwise?

Rachael

Is there actually a difference between typhoons and monsoons? Location?

Staci Pinkowitz

we were driving through a torrential rainstorm recently and saw what I can only describe as a lightning rat king. Do hurricanes generally involve lightning? What’s the anatomy of a hurricane, hurricane vs microburst vs thunderstorm, if the differences are subjective, etc

Rachael

I've heard climate change will affect the frequency and intensity of hurricanes. Why?

Jake and Ellie

First time question asker! Ellie: Can AI predict hurricanes?

Aileen Lands

When storm researchers fly into the hurricane, what is the danger level? Rated from 0 to driving in SoCal? What kinds of measurements are they taking? Also, what actually is storm surge and what produces it?

Amanda Metcalf

How long does eye of the storm last ? Is it true that there is no wind in there? Also do sea animals and fish stick around under the storm or do they try to get away? Question virgin lol

Chris Lipford

I love this question! I’ve never thought about where the line falls between a tornado and a full blown cyclone.

Audrey Zindler

I lived in Central Florida most of my adult life & would love to know what hurricane related urban legends the Ollogist has heard, if any of them are actually true, and how dangerous they can be. I have seen many windows taped with an X, ghost stories, monkeys infected with AIDS that escaped during a hurricane, and of course, the dangerous ones about your mobile homes being safe if they are tied down.

Chris Lipford

Question on your question (for you or the Ologist), what the cuss is an eyeball replacement cycle?

Chris Lipford

Rocket Power has entered the chat.

Ma's Nature Walks

Are hurricanes strictly an Earth thing? Or would that storm that makes up Jupiter's red dot be considered a hurricane (or typhoon)? Also, how do hurricanes influence the weather in the rest of the country? I know they can throw tornadoes within the region they hit, but what about on the other coast or in landlocked states further north and southern Canada? (By the way, my name is pronounced like Emily, not Emile. :) All those "i"s and "e"s throw people off.)

Robin Kuehn

Can you tell us about superlative hurricanes? (Biggest, fastest, furthest traveled) And are they ALL happening now? Is this our future?

The Other Maya

Ok, so: I hear Florida has strict building codes because of hurricanes in the Ologist's opinion A) Are building codes actually taking a bite out of storm damage or do developers just complain? B) If there actually has been notable progress in bringing building codes up to face hurricane damage: what do you think are effective legislative strategies that have been used? Asking as a person in the PNW that looks at 3 active volcanoes out of my car window every commute and yet - no hard seismic codes or really "plan" happening.

Kathleen Regovich

My partner wants to know how to be one of the people who gets to ride in a plane that flies into a hurricane.

Emma Carey

What differentiates a super storm from a hurricane? I lived in Long Island during super storm sandy and have always wondered how these weather events get their labels. First time asker :)

Potato Puffer

Apparently the age of pirates was enabled by a period of a lack of hurricanes. I’d like to know more about this too!

Kittens8myhomework

I worked in vet med in FL and we took in injured wildlife for our local rehab facility. After Ian we were like void of so much wildlife for a good year. 😥 With super powerful storms a lot get killed or evacuate, and a lot of our natural resources get destroyed so they don't have as many places to shelter or get food. And also as a result of the last few hurricane seasons there were flamingoes that got swept off course and were seen in several unexpected states, but had stayed for a while near Sanibel Island. I was on a mission to find them but they evaded me!

Kittens8myhomework

Also can someone discuss why hotels and big business are allowed to get away with destroying them (even tho they are protected) if they just pay a fine?! So irksome. They are vital for our land and critters.

Lauren Cooper

So....climate change. How fucked are we?

Kittens8myhomework

So screwed and, the new FEMA person didn't know there was a hurricane season 😑 claims it was a joke. How are millions of people losing their lives/homes/jobs and towns + dealing with insurance crises a joke?!

T Noz

Can't remember ever hearing about a hurricane (or cyclone) ever making landfall in the Southern hemisphere during their summer months. Do they form way out at sea and never hit any islands or continents? Maybe in doesn't get covered in the media here?

Kayla Higginbotham

Man this is a great question. My family and I used to spend every summer on Sanibel but haven’t been able to since Ian. To say watching the news of the destruction was heartbreaking, is an infinitely vast understatement. It was absolutely devastating, especially learning of the parrots by Jerry’s. Something was broken deep inside of me and I’m honestly afraid it will hurt too bad to go back. Everything weather related seems to just be getting worse and worse all over the place, it’s scary.

Kittens8myhomework

Assuming tech like Dorothy worked, could we ever "Twister" a hurricane to find out more about them? We can predict them well in advance, but we still have poor information as to where exactly they will make landfall as well as what kind of destruction it will cause.

Kittens8myhomework

Aw thank you! It was absolutely unbelievable to hear that the Sanibel bridge and Matlatcha bridge were taken out. Our cell towers were broke too so we heard it on the storm radios as we huddled in our closet w/ 8 animals (tornadoes were touching down too and we don't have sirens 🫠). My FIL was on the island within the first week because he had friends that had boats and went on. The things he saw in the water and the stories we all heard were horrific. He took videos of the island and it looked like a war torn 3rd world country. I legit could not tell where he was and I grew up on that island and went to school there. It has finally started coming back, nature and businesses alike. But it will never be the same. Building codes change after major storms. So the cute little cottages that got literally ripped out of the ground can't be replaced as they once were. Ft Myers Beach is going to be the worst one in regards to changing. So many mom and pop businesses (and less money than Sanibel) were taken into the sea and many people got screwed over with insurance. So they they sold their water front properties to big corporation for condos and development. It's going to be unrecognizable

Bee Morrison

Heya! I have a question about historic hurricane preparedness/climate change! I’ve recently moved to British Columbia from Nova Scotia and I can’t help but think these west coast folks are not set up for climate disaster! We’re been enduring worsening storm season on the east coast for years. The sense of community after a storm: neighbours coming out and checking on one another and clearing the streets, cooking for each other- we know how to act when nature acts on us. Do you think there’s a certain resilience being built up that communities who have not endured these kinds of storms will have to learn as our climate continues to change?

Allison Clark

Hate to be a bummer, but how bad are things expected to be in future storms as a result of the recent cuts to weather services by the US Gov?

Kayla Higginbotham

First time question asker in the hizzy: I’ve live in central Florida for my whole entire terrible life and have been through countless hurricanes. They really seem to be getting much much worse, I wonder if it’s climate change? Anyways, that’s not my question. My question is this: everything above the surface of the water during a hurricane is absolutely insane. Things are thrown about, ripped out of the ground, spit on viscously by the sky-but what about everything UNDER the water? Is it just as crazy or is it basically like nothing is happening and are the fish just chilling and feeling bad for all the land dwellers? If it is just as crazy under the water, is it just like the first couple feet or further down or what? What is happening to the sharks? Are all the fish getting sea sick and barfing? I worry about the sea creatures involved in the storm surge. Are they involved or do they know to high tail (intended pun) it to the recesses of their fish caves? Does anyone even bother to calculate the fish deaths? They should be added to the statistics. Just saying. Alright-thanks for reading my insane question with your eyeballs. K. Bye! (Love you!)

leigh jolivette

Second this question!! I know frog and tiny fish do get carried in , but what about anything bigger??

Leo Chiang

Not to inflame any viral conspiracy theories… but does cloud seeding or any other geo-engineering work to reduce or redirect hurricanes? As they become more intense due to climate change, what are some “out there” mitigation strategies?

R. Brennan

First time question asker who’s never even seen a hurricane (from Bulgaria): is it possible to fly above a hurricane and somehow destroy it from there? I have no idea how but maybe a better question would be: are people studying how to stop a hurricane? Is it even theoretically possible?

Between Dumplings

How can we build kids’ summer camps in “hurricane alley”? But really how much longer can we ignore the severe weather from flooding to hurricanes to extreme heat …it’s getting biblical but we allow big oil, big ag, and more to go on unabated. Where is the ray of hope?

Creature Feature

I knock on all wood everywhere each hurricane season that this one wont be the one that a hurricane comes to the ABC islands. Even putting it down in writing feels superstitiously wrong. Why is it unlikely for most Atlantic storms to turn south in this direction? What conditions would allow a hurricane to dip into this region?

Milla Arklay

First time question asker!!! I live in Australia and indigenous tribes have all sorts of Dreamtime stories to explain extreme weather events, which leads me to my first question: are hurricanes seen in creation stories or play a important part in cultures in different parts of the world? Secondly, what on earth are the similarities and differences between hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes?

Bevearlea

We absolutely need to know more about cloud seeding - is that a new -ology for Alie?!

R. Brennan

Question from beyond (the Balkans): is it possible because of climate change for hurricanes to start appearing in places that they don’t usually get to? Or as long as we’re not close to an ocean, we’re fine?

Bevearlea

Ooooo that’s cool to know! Is it fact?

Bevearlea

Yes, the mid Atlantic current collapse - how is this going to impact hurricanes slash typhoons slash cyclones?

Etienne

With climate change and heating of the oceans, will the power of the hurricanes increase?

Jennifer Lemon

Why do we call them hurricanes in the Atlantic and call them typhoons in the pacific?

Kristin Zimmerman

What happens to animals during hurricanes? Particularly curious about mammals, birds, and plankton!

Kristin Zimmerman

What would happen to a ship if it was stuck in a hurricane? How often does this happen?

Evelyn Uyemura

Is it true that hurricanes are impossible at the equator? Is it true that hurricanes are impossible in Los Angeles?

Ranger France

longggg time listener, first time question asker! I just did a presentation touching on global meteorology so my brain is full of questions regarding low pressure systems and hurricane development. 1- If the polar regions are chronically low pressure systems, why do hurricanes not form there as often as they do on the equatorial low pressure region? Or do they and we just don't publicize it since it's low population? 2- Does a planet require a Coriolis effect in order to have hurricanes? 3- Flimflam or not: could a hurricane cross over the equator if it has strong enough winds guiding it north/south? 4- how do meteorologist predict tropical storm/hurricane development when there is just a hint of a low pressure system forming? I track the global pressure systems on a free use website (zoom.earth) and there are pop-ups about regions of storm development over the next few days but in real time the winds and low pressure is not very strong.

James Orsatti

As someone living in Houston, a city that’s faced repeated flooding and hurricane damage, how do you think insurance systems and long-term infrastructure planning need to evolve to better reflect the increasing severity and unpredictability of modern hurricane risks? Specifically, are current models and policies doing enough to protect vulnerable communities and encourage resilient rebuilding strategies?

Deanna Day

I have questions (and comments) related to this. I lived most of my life in south and central Florida. Obviously there would be terrible destruction due to hurricanes, but I would see equal or weaker hurricanes completely flatten other coastal areas that are equally prone to hurricanes, yet their buildings in general seem to be totally inadequate. Just like… sticks in mud! Growing up, I was told that codes in south Florida first changed after Hurricane Andrew (which I would love to hear the -Ologist talk about in general!) The explanation, to me, was that other places hadn’t updated their codes the same way. So my questions are really: 1) Is it true that Hurricane Andrew was the cause of the new codes in south Florida? 2) Do codes for coastal areas vary within a state? 3) What is keeping some of these extremely vulnerable areas from updating their codes? (I assume the answer is just greed and money) and 4) How can we make sure that codes are changed so people are living in safe housing? Thank you!!!

Deanna Day

I can tell you from experience: yes! We would sit outside on the enclosed patio when the eye passed. So weird to experience the calm knowing more was coming.

Victoria Hsieh

Long long time listener! First time question asker :) maybe a basic one but what are the first few signs that indicate a hurricane is forming and how do experts/local officials determine when an evacuation order should be declared? Secondly, how valid is the science in Twisters?

Jacob Shepherd

So they pick the names in alphabetic order… but how do they pick which names for which letters?

PaintRosesRed

What is the difference between a hurricane, typhoon, and a cyclone? I’ve heard the only difference is geographical? Is that true? Why not call them all the same thing?

PaintRosesRed

We hear about human fatalities and causalities during hurricanes, but what about animals? Are sea animals affected? How about land animals?

Heather Leonard

I’ve always heard that hurricanes start as dust storms from Africa. How true is that? What did indigenous people do during hurricanes? Some storms become incredibly powerful and I can’t imagine living through that before modern hurricane resistant architecture. As hurricanes become more powerful, what changes do scientists plan to make to the category system? What is the most dangerous part of a hurricane? I’ve always been told it’s the storm surge but I’ve heard others say the wind. Perhaps it depends on where you live? I recently read Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and there’s a good depiction of what a hurricane is like in the book. What’s the oligists favorite and least favorite depictions in media? Is there anything we can do as far as how/where we build our homes to adapt to hurricanes? As a Florida native I’d also like to know, why do people keep moving here? It’s also incredibly frustrating when they move here but don’t learn how to live here with the storms and wildlife. What advice would you give some one who is moving to a hurricane prone area? When I compare our near daily summer storms in Florida to the hurricanes, it seems like the hurricanes have far less lightning. Is that true? Why do hurricanes not have as much lightning going on in them? Is there a way to tell if a hurricane is coming without using modern technologies? I’ve heard that some plants will bloom when a storm is coming.

Shirley-Luz Enombo

As someone who has lived in hurricane territory my whole life, I live and die by “the cone”. Can you talk more about the uncertainty in it and what it really represents?

Matt Hirschl

What’s an oligite gotta do to name a damn hurricane??? How long has the current hurricane naming system been in place? Will it ever change?

Emily Totero

What are the factors that predict the severity of a hurricane season? What are the things that make one year’s hurricanes worse than another’s? I live in NY and everyone always says we’re “due” for another bad hurricane. Is that just something people say, or is there really a pattern to the frequency of big storms in a location?

Jonathan Cummings

Rather than trying to build hurricane resilient infrastructure, have any people in hurricane regions intentionally built low cost easy to replace structures instead? What were the traditional means of adaption to live in hurricane prone regions and can we learn anything from that?

carodactyll

I live in east Tennessee, and it always seems like by the time hurricanes and tropical storms reach southern Appalachia, the mountains "break up the storm" - or at least this is what I've always been told. Is there any validity to this? If so, how does that work? And why was Helene different?

Cyntia B

Depending on the ocean they originate from, we have hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones. Aside from the location, are there other differences between these ocean storms?

Cyntia B

What does it feel like to be in a hurricane when at sea?

Cyntia B

To my understanding, there are no hurricane-like storms around Europe (although the North Sea is notoriously agitated). What are the first records of European navigators encountering hurricanes?

Autumn Knol

How did we decide the naming convention? When did that come about? And how is each name chosen? Is there a baby names book in the weather office someplace?

Kelly A McConnell

I second this question. I went to school at the University of Miami (go Hurricanes 🙌🏻). Our mascot is the Ibis (not a duck y’all!) as they are the last to leave as a hurricane arrives & the first to return. Also, there was a parrot jungle that was damaged in a storm so there are lots of parrots in coral gables.

Inez Brandon

Fairly new listener that loves this podcast! (Ali, you are awesome !)Has climate change expanded or changed what we traditionally think of as hurricane season?

Emily T

How can we adapt to the government gutting programs that provide weather information?

Maddie A

Long time listener, first time question asker! In the wake of mass firings at NOAA, will it become more difficult to accurately predict when and where hurricanes will make landfall?

Francesca Huggins

I work in catastrophic insurance, scheduling inspections after hurricanes. My team jokes about our ‘hurricane watch parties,’ drinking Hurricanes while watching Jim Cantore hang onto stop signs like it’s an Olympic sport. It’s part coping, part prepping for the chaos ahead. Is there a psychological term for that can’t-look-away, ‘eating popcorn’ feeling during a natural disaster when you’re not rooting for it but watching feels like the only way to prepare?

James Jakes

Has the way we predict hurricanes changes in the past year or two? I feel like the turnout or someone is different with prediction map on the National hurricane center website. Also how accurate are the cones?

Cindy Marcum

There is a lot of talk around Texas about cloud seeding and the effect that has on local flooding. Is there a connection between these kids of weather manipulations and hurricanes?

Clemens V

Maybe as follow up: is Europe going to face hurricanes in a future under more progressed climate change?

Jani Rounds

How did indigenous peoples in the Americas and the Caribbean handle hurricanes?

Jeffrey Vanderlip

Seems like hurricanes are not just affecting the coast. Here is Asheville we were devastated by Helene last year. What does the data show for changing risk for inland areas?

Eileen in Oz

I live in Australia, and the cyclone paths seem pretty erratic compared to storm paths in the USA. Do these storms form and travel differently on different continents?

Bahdi_Phat

I understand that the waters off the coast of Oregon, where I live, is colder than the the waters off Portland, Maine. I assume that's why Oregon isn't affected by tropical storms like the other Portland is. Given the rise in global temperatures, how long do you think it will be before Portland Oregon starts to experience tropical storms or hurricanes? 20+ years?

Samuel Schaar

Question: What types of technologies are currently being used to predict hurricane formation, strength and landfall?

Tori Groene-Zeigler

What, if any, ecological benefits stem from hurricanes? I wondered if, sort of like forest fires, there was a benefit to the environment amongst the destruction. (Not to silver lining it, but I just wondered whether there was some “purpose”… to give the Earth intent. Heh)

Meagan Walker

Is it possible for a mini-hurricane to form over smaller bodies of warm water?

Steve Prosterman

Hello Allie, I am a veteran of 4 major hurricanes in St. Thomas, VI. 2017 we had two Cat 5 hurricanes in a 2 week period. I take care of the university boats and marine program and can not leave but have to prepare as best I can - luckily no boats lost in 2017. With cuts to NOAA what can we expect to change in the forecasting that is so so important to all of us living in hurricane prone areas? Steve P.

Avyously

Question from my 5 yr old: “I heard that hurricanes can spawn tornadoes. Is that true? If so, where is the safest place to be if you’re experiencing both at the same time? Seems like the basement wouldn’t be good because of flooding?” I’d like to add to his question - why/how do hurricanes sometimes generate tornadoes? Thank you! :)

Lina Zikas

What are the origins of giving hurricanes people names?

julia_loves_fun_facts

I have learned that hurricane severity is based on the expected wind and subsequent damabe, but this doesn't account for rainfall and the damage from water. Is the rating system changing to account for both factors? If yes: how so? If no: why not?

Emily K

My sister Madison and I would like to know if you can explain the origins of protection against hurricanes that the Tocobaga people have allegedly bestowed on the Tampa Bay Area in Florida. And are there any geographic or meteorological reasons that could also explain why Tampa Bay is so impervious to hurricanes?

Jenna Congdon

I once heard that people evacuate less readily for hurricanes given female names, because they sound less threatening than male names. Is that true? If so, how silly. But couldn't we fix that by using gender neutral names, or using numbers or something? Like, we want people to get out of the way! Make them sound scary, right?

Emily K

Another question from my sister Madison and I, do hurricanes or storm surges as a result of hurricanes have any effect on the sea floor? If so, are they long term or short term effects?

Empress of Smallwood

Before modern technology, was there any way people could predict when a hurricane was brewing? Was there any method of early detection at all or was it all about trying to weather the storm when it arrived? If so, how were they surviving the storms?

Matt Thompson

What's the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane?

Matt Thompson

Is the eye of the storm truly calm?

Matt Thompson

What is the longest time a hurricane has been going?

SustainableSirenian

I live on the gulf coast of Florida and it feels like the storms have just increased in frequency intensity. This last storm was the first time my grandfather’s house had any hurricane and flood damage (evac zone D). With climate change effects becoming more and more apparent, what should we expect?

Brittney Corrigan

Is it true that hurricanes are often shaped in the spiral pattern of the Fibonacci Sequence? Are there other common shapes of hurricanes? What dictates their shapes?

SustainableSirenian

How much trouble are we in since there has been defunding within NOAA and other programs that research weather and climate?

SustainableSirenian

What happens to marine animals during hurricanes? After Milton a hunter found a sea turtle in a forest in land. How many instances like this have occurs?

SustainableSirenian

Yes they can certainly create tornados. A tornado took out my and five of neighbors fences in a row

SustainableSirenian

How is it not incredibly illegal (and enforced) for jobs to force employees to stay before/during/after a hurricane. I’m thinking of any local government positions such as a secretary and those in food/hospitality services.

SustainableSirenian

Can you please please please talk about indigenous itechnology for living with hurricanes? I heard that some traditional Seminole chickees would have their roof be able to lower so the air wouldn’t rip it off and the people would be more protected

Avyously

It’s true, he asks great questions :)

Audrey Hudak

Are hurricanes and Typhoon the same thing? Why different names?

Bennett Vanderbosch

How have marine and land wildlife adapted to tropical storms?

Bit of bitter butter

Are there any good things that happen because of a hurricane?

Andy Pepper

Child of hurricane country here! 🙋🏻‍♂️ Can they explain the Hurricane Hunter planes and how a human could do something so terrifying?

Neal Greenstein

How is it that tropical storms ended up have names?

rowantree

I’m wondering about the future of hurricanes: what that will look like in terms of frequency, duration, and intensity, and how can communities build resilience if the federal government can’t be relied upon to provide warning and aid?

Ellen Marie

Can they explain how hurricanes and tornadoes are similar and different?

A. Ortega

We do get hurricanes, but they don’t seem the same as “back” home! Are these more like cyclones? In German these are called Orkan, which are translated as hurricanes.

Megan R

Is it true that the worst tropical storms are named women's names on purpose? Or is that just a strange coincidence?

A. Ortega

First time q asker! What conditions are needed for them to get inland?! Is a mass of water needed? (Or does that just make it “worse”?)

Nancy Kay Clark

Many of us saw the effects of appointing Arabian Horse Judges and Stewards Commissioner, Mike Brown, during Hurricane Katrina. Why is the Director of FEMA a position appointed by the President? Why doesn't that position require a weather scientist?

A. Ortega

First time question asker! I want to know all about modelling. What types of models are there? What kind of data do they need? Advantages/Disadvantages of the different types? What exactly are they modelling?! What type of resolution do they have? In which range are they more accurate? What is needed to make them better?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) What's the etymology of the name hurricane? If they hurry, why do they need a cane? 2) What's a hurricane versus a monsoon versus a typhoon etc? Are there qualitative differences in a hurricane like storm and how they act in different parts of the world? 3) How far inland does a hurricane go before dispersing and what is the record furthest distance? Are new areas being hit because of climate change? 4) If hurricanes hit the southeastern US every year, and they're so destructive, how is there any town left anywere that hasn't been leveled? Are the areas that get truly destroyed actually in a narrow range and its the luck of the draw for exactly where that is? 5) What kinds of urban planning are actually good for handling hurricane storms? Is it possible to build back.... better, dare I say? 6) How does a storm surge work? Where does all the water come from? Is it only when high tide happens at the same time or is it extra bad if it happens at high tide? 7) How do the ecosystems recover from hurricane storms? Is normal hurricane weather a part of how they work? Are these kinds of storms an important part of how animals like frogs for example get dispersed to other regions or seed islands out in the ocean? 8) How good can hurricane path prediction get? And how screwed are people under the current administration given their desire to destroy NOAA? Is it possible for universities or private entities to build the infrastructure and pick up the people who have been fired to maintain this type of service for a few years until we can rebuild the government?

Kait

Reminds me of the flamingoes in I think it was PA and WI!!

Marc Albert

How will the cuts to NOAA impact meteorological forecasting and communications for tropical cyclones?

Kait

NYC resident here! Just this week, flash floods shut down our subway system again. Any advice for city dwellers who may get caught in a storm while underground? Or, for that matter, advice for anyone who may get caught in a storm but is stuck using infrastructure that wasn’t made to withstand hurricanes? Note: Hope my question isn’t stressful, adding links in the reply in case anyone wants to peruse NYC open data on climate change resilience.

Kait

Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy showed me how storms can reshape communities. I’ve also heard/seen evidence of insurance and housing markets taking advantage of this. Has anyone introduced regulations on those industries so they don’t profit off of climate tragedies?

Bobby Baldocchi

Do hurricanes appear in the geologic record? If so what can we learn about these storms and how do they compare to modern hurricanes?

Melissa Wise

Please tell me you're interviewing Dr Levi Cowan. He's the best!

Tom Boodry

If the storm causes it to be raining cats and dogs, should it be called a fur-ricane?

Bobby White

We live in Florida so this one hits close to home. My son Mac wants to know: how many tornadoes does a hurricane generate on average when it makes landfall? Do/can they track that? We love your show!!!

Keerat Singh

Why does predicting a hurricane’s path need such a big computer? What goes wrong with the prediction if a less complex computer is used?

Keerat Singh

What differentiates a hurricane from a tornado? Would the giant storm in Jupiter’s eye be considered a hurricane?

Joe Koonce (LilBits)

How much does global temperature influence the overall hurricane season and individual hurricanes? And most importantly, what would a hurricane season look like during an ice age?

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

How forked are we by the defunding of NOAA and NWS? I live in Michigan and our Marquette office (in the UP) has been affected by these cuts. It feels like this could parallel the airport traffic controller crisis where employees are overworked, offices are understaffed, and everyone is headed toward burnout. With more intense hurricanes and the expansion of Tornado Alley, it seems that now more than ever we need that 24/7 monitoring and a robust meteorological team.

Kelly Shaver

What impact does the recent defunding of NWS and NOAA have on our ability to keep people in hurricane-prone areas safe?

Kelly Shaver

Are we going to start getting hurricanes in California as the climate keeps changing?

TheCole

It feels like in recent years there is a "once in a century" storm nearly every hurricane season in areas like North Carolina and the gulf side of Florida that historically don't get a lot of hurricanes. Is this just simple math because of an increase in frequency and intensity from climate change, or are typical paths for storms shifting?

glenna gordon

Do serious storms tear up graveyards? Bodies are only buried six feet deep so if there’s flooring or tornados or other major hurricane activity, what happens? And, what happens when a hurricane hits somewhere already known to be haunted like New Orleans or an abandoned mental institution? What is the spiritual significance of a hurricane?

Juliana Besenbruch

Wait, what is cloud seeding? I just looked it up, and it doesn't sound real. Not denying its existence, just saying that my mind is blown!

Christine Pikstein (she/her)

1. How likely are hurricanes in large bodies of fresh water, such as the great lakes? 2. It seems we've seen more hurricanes in the last few years. How do the numbers compare to those from decades ago?

Juliana Besenbruch

Yes, I'm interested in this too! I'm from the island of O'ahu in Hawaii, and that seems to happen often (not always) to hurricanes that hit our state. The Big Island and Maui have peaks over 10000 feet, so if a hurricane hits the Big Island, it loses intensity quickly because of the mountains.

Juliana Besenbruch

They're called hurricanes in Hawaii, so I guess the name changes depending on which part of the pacific.

Juliana Besenbruch

Follow-up question (from Hawaii). What are features of hurricane resistant architecture? I only know of vague things like hurricane clips or evacuating to the nearest school cafeteria if it looks like the winds will get too strong.

Juliana Besenbruch

Second this question! How do you determine the diameter of a hurricane in the first place? I'm thinking about hurricane Dora in 2023, which never directly hit Hawaii, but still led to high winds that fueled devasting brush fires. So Dora didn't hit Hawaii, but still caused major damage there, so where do you draw the line?

Juliana Besenbruch

Hi Ali, as someone who grew up in Hawaii (and aparently slept through hurricane Iniki as a toddler), just want to remind you that the Pacific is also in hurricane season.

CasualCatLady

I know that increasing atmospheric temperatures are increasing storm intensity, but does increasing ocean temperatures and/or acidity also play a role?

Cindy Marcum

New concept for me too. 🤷‍♀️

Jeanette-o-saur

I think you should touch on how Waffle House became the official storm tracker in the US because it's a great story

Gordon Haas

I grew up on Kauai. in 1959, when I was 8, I went through the eye of Hurricane Dot. I remember being able to hear the surf on the beach nearly a mile downhill from my house in the eye. Any other interesting facts about the eyes of hurricanes? (I also went through the edge of Hurricane Iwa in 1982, and was living in Oregon where we get no hurricanes, when my parents and brothers went through devastating Hurricane Iniki.) Also during Iniki, Spielberg and crew were on Kauai filming Jurassic Park. They filmed some actual footage during the hurricane and edited it into the movie. Does the guest know of other movies with actual hurricane footage?

William Andrews

The hurricane name is one that comes from a language that is pretty much gone now. It is a good question. Also the different names for different regions is one that I suspect the expert will touch on before the question.

William Andrews

I am going to ask this one because it is one that people often ask. "Why can we jus drop an atomic bomb at the eye-wall and destroy it?"

Mallory Avery

My husband is from New Orleans, and there is a myth (?) that every time it snows in New Orleans, the following hurricane season will be really bad. Is there any truth to that? Is there any science behind that?

Sean Luchs

Ha, Houston's urban legend is the reverse: a hurricane landfall "guarantees" snow in the winter. Annoyingly, it has been working out lately, so the legend only grows...

Sean Luchs

Hmmm, I wonder which of my colleagues is the ologist here? Jealous of them and Dr. Shepherd. I'll shoot one out there - which is the bigger bottleneck in improving model guidance of hurricanes: data collection and observations, or model characteristics (resolution, model physics, etc)?

Sean Luchs

Cloud seeding is real in that people try doing it, and that's about it. The scientific literature is mixed at best on if it accomplished anything, and if it does actually do anything, the effect is very small

Vanessa Adams

Is the likelihood of a hurricane hitting you inversely related to the amount of preparation you make for it? Signed, chronic overthinker

Vanessa Adams

Why are we seeing more tornados as part of hurricanes now? (We Floridians don’t have basements to shelter in!)

William Andrews

Is there a special classification for storms that pass through the Gulf of Mexico and into the Pacific and are still a hurricane? There is a published concept of a device that could protect a city or area from hurricanes by removing the moisture from the air. It would be a giant cooling tower like device that would sit off-shore and an up draft set-up in it. That would cause the moisture to rain out and cool the air. This would cause the storm to deflect. There was also a plan to pump water from deeper in the ocean to cool the air.

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

What is the earliest known documentation of a hurricane? i.e. a letter, diary entry, cave painting, etc. Is there any way to look through fossil records/carbon dating/something fancy I don’t know about to find any evidence of hurricanes in prehistoric times? Also, Sharknado prequel idea— Dinonado. We’ll workshop the title though.

Sean Luchs

Oh, this would have been a good Q for the last meteorologist on the show way back in the day. The answer to this question was a major focus of his research for a time!

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

How the heckarooni are pilots able to fly into the eye of the hurricane? Both from a physics and chutzpa standpoint. Who thought that was a good idea?! 😵‍💫

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

I’m also curious about the possibility of fresh water hurricanes! Superior is notoriously a beastly body of water, and Erie is the shallowest so more likely to become extremely warm compared to the others. Is there any potential for the warm lake air meeting cold air from the arctic and causing a huge brouhaha? Like a freak polar vortex in the middle of summer? (Honestly everything is so dystopian right now that I’m pretty much open to the idea of just about anything at this point)

Kelly Shaver

Why do hurricanes randomly stop and start and switch directions? It seems like they should be too big and powerful to be pushed around by air currents.

Kelly Shaver

Is the air pressure lower in the eye of a hurricane or is that a myth?

Kelly Shaver

Is it possible to have hail or snow in a hurricane or do the warm air temps make that impossible?

Kelly Shaver

Do ocean water temps influence hurricanes?

Kelly Shaver

From my 4-year-old niece: What happens to animals like squirrels and fishes and lions at the zoo when a big windy storm happens?

Tanner

"Hurricane Hunters" – aka, those brave (crazy?) enough to fly into a hurricane. Any history on how this started and what we've learned over the years from this data?

Andrew McVay

Is there a hurricane rating defined by the average amount or mass of debris being carried through the air? Maybe it varies by terrain. It seems like that rating could help define the potential wind impact damage in contrast to things tipping over and breaking.

Hezy Anholt

I heard that in the U.S., hurricanes with female names cause more deaths on average because they're not taken as seriously. Please tell me more.

Maddy

Can you explore the myth that St. Petersburg, Florida rarely if ever gets hit head on by a hurricane due to Native American burial grounds

Adolfo

Is the eye of the hurricane really calm? And could you avoid the high winds by staying in the eye?

Maddy

Prior to Hurricane Andrew, Florida had not been severely hit for generations. Can you discuss Andrew’s lasting impacts and how it has shaped the states hurricane protocol, preparedness, and standards?

Adolfo

Is the song “ Rock You Like A Hurricane” popular among meteorologists?

Francesca Huggins

Why do you think the public connects so strongly with personalities like Jim Cantore during hurricane season? Is it the science, the adrenaline, or something else?

Christine Hurley

Houstonian here! Can confirm from multiple experiences that the eye is very calm in consideration of the raging storm right before and following it. After Hurricane Harvey, my go-to trusted weather source is Space City Weather. LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! Climate change is undeniable, but are hurricane seasons trending more severe as time goes on for realsy? Or does it just seem like it? Can you talk about the 1900 Galveston hurricane?

ValBeListening

Is there concern that the frequency of hurricanes in specific cities will lead to the land becoming unhabitable? (not just thinking of sea level rise, but also the need to constantly rebuild will become too expensive and not worth it especially as FEMA isn't reliable)

ValBeListening

Are there considering adding more categories for hurricanes?

ValBeListening

How is it that Asheville, NC was so impacted by Hurricane Helene? Is it because the storm had so much power it dumped a bunch of rain and the mountainous topography led to made flooding? Will we see more areas that are far from the ocean, such as Asheville, impacted by hurricanes?

Joe Lewis

Also, the data from the military radar satellite that is supposed to disappear from meteorologists’ toolboxes?

Amelia Frank

My 5 1/2 year old Henry LOVES meteorology and hurricanes are his favorite! He was hoping to ask a few questions: “1) why are hurricanes associated with thunder, lightning, and sometimes tornadoes? 2) are animals really sometimes lifted up by hurricanes? 3) have you ever been in a science plane IN a hurricane and if so, what was it like? Thank you from Henry!”

Matt Ceccato

Does water depth affect the formation of hurricanes?

Joe Lewis

Old guy that was born and reared in Baton Rouge here… I grew up with elders telling stories about Betsy and Camille (1965 and 1969, I think). But since 2005, we talk about Katrina and Rita from 2005 or some of the more recent monsters. Were the beasts of the past freaks where the energy of the Atlantic got spun up once or thrice per season, and now additional energy means more chances at major storms? A friend started looking more seriously at climate change when I pointed out that Sandy was a Cat 3 that hit New Jersey after the World Series was over - probably impossible during our childhoods.

Colin Rowbottom

How will funding cuts at the federal level affect this year’s hurricane season?

Colin Rowbottom

Why are hurricane ratings based on wind and not other factors such as storm surge?

Colin Rowbottom

Is there anything that can stop a hurricane in its tracks? Would igniting a nuclear weapon in a hurricane destroy it?

Julie Castle

Since NOAA is getting gutted, what impact will that have on hurricane prediction & response?

Madison Armand

I’m just looking for some awareness spreading- essential workers in FL don’t often get the option to leave because there is only one way out and by the time we can, the roads are too clogged and people get trapped in their cars. Can you all talk about this a bit so people know the state of screwed people are when it comes to this? Being called an idiot for not leaving when Irma hit was disorienting after losing so much. Thank you for everything you do🧡

Madison Armand

Not sure if a meteorologist can answer but Zookeeper/animal behavior scientist here- AZA facilities are req to have evacuation or at least shelter plans for animals esp in places like FL. We have specialized buildings we have to have for animals to hold them in and they’re preplanned based on how strong the wind is. Luckily hurricanes usually give us enough time and we have animals trained to go into kennels so we can transport them easily. We have even brought them to other facilities who can hold them in safer areas 🧡

CurtisDawg

Are hurricanes spreading to new areas? Are more people in danger due to inadequate infrastructure?

CurtisDawg

Have hurricane categories increased over time, especially recently. Meaning, are we seeing more cat 4s and 5s than ever before?

Rachel Robinson

So I know this probably Isnt the best place to ask, but I'm going to do it anyway. Can you do an autism episode like the one you did for ADHD?

Rachel Robinson

Hurricanes and tornadoes scare the crap out of me. I live in Utah, so I have limited experience with tornadoes and none at all with hurricanes. I understand that many people can't leave these regions due to financial instability, but if people do have a choice, why do they stay? I don’t judge them for staying, but I want to know why they literally weather the storm over and over again.

Rachel Robinson

I live in Utah, so I know nothing about going through a hurricane. What happens to everyone stuck in traffic? Do they have to weather the storm in their cars? Are essential workers not allowed to evacuate, or have to evacuate last? I assume some stay out of duty. I'm sorry that you had to go through Irma; even more so, I'm sorry you were helping your community, following the rules, and then socially punished.

Rachel Robinson

(not being rude just genuinely curious) wouldn't that spread radioactive material everywhere and create a different problem?

Rachel Robinson

And what happens to the people who can financially afford to leave?

Rachel Robinson

I love data analysis! I think this is a great idea.

Rachel Robinson

Can you keep up with the eye? Or would that be impossible?

Rachel Robinson

I'm going to school, for psychology, and I've heard this in some of my classes. Is it true?

Rachel Robinson

That's really cool! How do you guys prepare for flooding, and do you base evacuation on the hurricane scale of the storm surge. Like how do you know when it's time to get the animals out, or to shelter in place?

Rachel Robinson

Great questions, and id watch that movie

Rachel Robinson

If you can, living in Utah helps with this. I'm a chronic overthinker as well and I think my panic attacks would increase if I lived on any coast

Rachel Robinson

Is this making it hard to convince people to evacuate?

Rachel Robinson

How powerful does the computer have to be to predict a hurrican in a way that will help save a large amount of lives? Like if I did it on a Mac, how poor would the accuracy of the prediction be? Now can you explain it to me like I know nothing about computers?

Rachel Robinson

I'm really interested in this. I feel like I'm more interested in the socio-economic consequences than the actual storms

Holyorzo

First time question asker! I just joined last month because this (and my medication) are legit the only things keeping me sane while delivering mail all day and dealing with a breakup 🦆 Anyway: Why aren’t cities that are within hurricane zones not rebuilding“upwards” to speak of when they’re damaged by these storms (ie stilts/other raising of buildings to be above the storm surge line) or going the Holland route and investing big on dykes and other ways to block out and keep out the ocean out? I just thought it was so weird that they’re not adapting the way their cities function in conjunction with these storms because that’s definitely the only way these places will stay habitable.

D.J. Brenner

First time question asked Rose (age 6): What is the biggest a hurricane can become? How does a hurricane move? How/ why does a hurricane cross the ocean? Why makes a hurricane so destructive?

Colin Rowbottom

Hmm that is a fair point! Say if the nuclear weapon did stop the hurricane and the weather was now clear skies and completely calm, wouldn’t the radioactive material only spread as far as the nuclear weapon was designed for? Either way probably not great to release that kind of material in the atmosphere. Im not sure how radioactive material works and if it would stay up at the elevation it exploded at or fall down and affect what lies below.

Mie [me-ay]

what’s the most important thing that urban coastal cities and communities should be doing to prepare for increased storm and hurricane activity, in terms of infrastructure? i live in an area that sees frequent hurricanes and tropical storms, and it’s alarming how little infrastructure we seem to have that accounts for this.

Colin Rowbottom

I’m from the surrounding Asheville area and one reason it was so bad was that the 2-3 days leading up to when the hurricane hit, most of western North Carolina got really bad rainfall and flooding. So by the time Hurricane Helene came, the soil was already saturated and couldn’t absorb anymore rainfall. That led to a lot of landslides, wind blowing over trees then historical flooding x2

Denise Sanders

Who decides whether a Hurricane name is taken off the list? What’s the destructive criteria?

Denise Sanders

Yes! A lot of people moved to Houston (where I am) from New Orleans after Katrina and many stayed and never went back. I’d like to add to the questions on socio-economic part and regulations to ask whether there has ever been any regulatory consideration of zoning property areas as uninhabitable since they get hit by hurricanes so often?

Gavy

First-time question from Morgan, age 11: Does sea-life ever get swept up in hurricanes?

Kathy Connelly

Please talk about the hurricane lull that made space for the age of pirates in the Caribbean. Also how do hurricanes reshape the contours of the seabed? Also didn’t your dendrology episode touch on using tree rings to study past hurricane events? - Kathy from near inland freshwater sea, Lake Superior, PS oh and should we expect hurricane -like weather events as Lake Superior warms?

SoManyQuestions

How do typhoons fit into all of this? I remember them from elementary school classes as related but never hear about them anymore

Em Rothamel

First time question asker here! How far back does our written history go on hurricanes? What was the first ever recorded, did it have a name?

Lars Watts

First time question asked here, are frozen hurricanes like the one in The Day After Tomorrow possible?!

Fiona Dolphin

How does climate change affect hurricanes?🌀

Living it Up

Have hurricanes ever caused redistribution of animal species by sweeping them up and plonking them down elsewhere?

Jessica Berghammer

Can we please talk about hurricane helene and how it went into the mountains!!!

Sara M

First time question asker: While storms organize and strengthen over water, landfall changes their behavior. What are the recognized impacts of making landfall? Does the topography influence whether the storm gains or loses energy, especially if it's able to move further inland and reach higher elevations or land formations (e.g. Appalachian Mountains), or is it more influenced by atmospheric variables like air temperature and barometric pressure?

Madison Woofter

What direction do they spin, like clockwise or counterclockwise? Does it depend on the hemisphere or the type of storm?

Casa Reed-Dean

Are animals able to find safety in the eye of the hurricane as it travels?

Casa Reed-Dean

We are obsessed with musicals in our household, so this one is inspired by Lin Manuel Miranda… Is the song lyrics from Hamilton “in the eye of the hurricane, there is quiet” is that true? Specifically, is it completely quiet or is there noise from the storm around the eye?

Melody B

Yes, adding on to this: how did ancient/indigenous peoples know a hurricane was coming? How did they survive? I’m imagining thatched roofs would blow off any kind of shelter; any cellars/dugouts would flood. I live in Central Florida so I am thinking of the storm passing overhead, but for coastal indigenous folks, how did they deal with getting the brunt of the storm? Thinking of losing their boats, docks, etc., which means losing their livelihood in addition to their homes (and potentially lives).

Melody B

All excellent questions from a fellow Floridian! I transplanted here about 21 years ago - was on vacation visiting a friend here when Hurricane Charley came through. I make sure to stay current with storm prep advice & make sure our hurricane kit is checked at the beginning of every season. Makes no sense to me to NOT research the major weather events when moving to a new area/region! I’ve also noticed the lightning difference between the afternoon storms and hurricanes so I’m curious about this.

Melody B

Another Floridian wanting an answer to this! Can I just get a pile of tanks and some scuba gear and go sit on the ocean floor to wait out a storm??

Melody B

Echoing Deanna - yes! I went out with my friend and her sister when Hurricane Charley passed over Orlando. The air was very still (probably felt extra still after the bonkers winds preceding the eye), everything was quiet (animals were still hunkered down and all the sane people were still inside). We enjoyed the fresh air and quiet for a few minutes in a nearby neighborhood park and then high-tailed it back to the house when we saw the other side of the eye wall approaching.

Melody B

There’s a reason the news blasts out not to cross storm flooding - there is all kinds of nasty shit (literal and figurative) in flood waters. I’m also curious to know how pollutants spread from storm flooding and what precautions various industries have to take to prevent/mitigate the release of toxins/pollutants used in their processes?

Melody B

K8MH - I read about that and 🤐 I have to restrain myself from sharing my thoughts because WOW. WOW WOW WOW.

Ranger France

omg it's THE Earl of Graymalkin! 50% of the reason I finally caved into joining patreon is to finally catch the question asker seems to be featured in nearly every episode.

Earl of Greymalkin

Eek, I have been Perceived! Hahaha I'm flattered, hello! PS ermines are so cute :D

Liz Smith

Why are the storms so bad now and seem worse than before? My mother used to tell me about hurricanes in Cuba when she was a small child, but the storms we have seen lately are so horrific.

Butler2Batman

How do we promote NOT sending reporters to the coast where hurricanes make landfall while telling everyone else to stay home and/or evacuate??!??

The Other Maya

Ok, so, again - PNW person trying to fit "Hurricanes" into my own paradigm of what natural disasters look like, and I've seen a lot of questions about "why people stay" and I think this is super important so I want to bump it, because I think there are so many reasons and it's really important to understand if we as a society want to take care of each other. We need to see things from that perspective of someone who would stay. There's a local legend in my part of the world, named Harry Truman (not the President). Harry ran away to the mountains during Prohibition to outrun The Law, and settled at a place called Spirit Lake. He built a Lodge, and a little resort with a boat dock, on Spirit Lake, at the foot of a mountain that at the time was called "The Mount Fuji of the West". Harry's Wife died, and all he had was The Lodge and his memories, and when the State Police came to evacuate Harry because Mt Saint Helens was going to blow, he said he wouldn't, and that he had a secret cave with Whiskey and everything he needed. He was in his 80s. I wasn't alive yet when the mountain blew, but my husband was. Kids from that time were all worried about Harry, and some folks never stopped looking for him, but both Harry and Spirit Lake were wiped away by pyroclastic flows and buried under ash and pumice May 18th 1980.

Ranger France

Is there any way we can do away with the naming system of hurricanes to no longer be common people names? -Signed, someone who had to change the given name they go by that wasn't Katrina as a kid.

Katie M

Why have the hurricanes been moving more towards the gulf? Is this climate change?

SweatyBangs

First time question asker!! How do hurricane meteorologists handle the “cry wolf” attitude? It seems to me that their job is to err on the side of caution and alert the public to the possible worst case scenarios but then folks say, “Last time it wasn’t as bad as they predicted, so …” Increasing modeling uncertainty must make it even more difficult to strike the appropriate balance. So much respect to all hurricane researchers and meteorologists!

SweatyBangs

PS. Fuck *that* guy and his sharpie making everyone’s jobs even harder as a hurricane was bearing down.

Zoe Anderson

first time question asker long time listener! how are our hurricanes on earth similar/different from hurricanes on other planets?

Sarah EG

New patreon here! I grew up on a bay in Rhode Island, and every hurricane we were scared of the storm swell hitting at high tide and causing extensive flooding, but I also remember that it mattered what side of the hurricane hit our bay. Whaaaaa? How does high tide, storm surge, and the "side" of the hurricane all work together to put 3 feet of water across our neighborhood??

Feylin

First time question asker - I have been through a few hurricanes now since moving to SC and I have learned that being located in the Piedmont area we never know how they will manifest here. Some are violent, with flooding and damaging wind, while others seem to putter out as they stretch over the state. How much does the topography affect hurricanes as they stretch over such large regions? What happens when they loose contact with the ocean?

Madison Armand

This is an incredibly sweet response so thank you times a million. We’re allowed to leave, and after a certain strength, they are not allowed to tell us we can’t. But, here’s the thing no one knows: we often don’t know how strong it’s going to be until it’s too late to leave and as an essential worker, the very real guilt of leaving before the job is done keeps you there longer than it should. I was on a hurricane “ride out” team which stayed on site at my job during category 1-3 but after that we’re not required. Some people are trapped in their cars if they can’t find a shelter or hotel that will let them in. With more city planning and funding, more shelters and hotels open their doors to people. But unfortunately that money is going away these days.

bizanthymum

As someone who also lives in this region of the PNW I think about Harry Truman (not the president) often — both with bewilderment and a sort of strange admiration.

Jeremy Green

What’s up with the hurricane that hit California a couple years back? That’s not normal

Ted Vician

Hurricane McHurricaneFace!

Ted Vician

We had a hurricane in January about a decade ago in Central Florida. That’s extremely abnormal. They weren’t even sure what to call it because it was after the end of the prior hurricane season and before the new list had been officially released for that year.