Some Climatological Characteristics of Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, Gulf and East Coasts of the United States

Book excerpt: A climatology of hurricane factors important to storm surges is presented for the U.S. gulf and east coasts. A smoothed frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes entering and exiting the coast and storms passing within 150 n.mi. of the coast during the period 1871-1973 is given. The central pressure for hurricanes and tropical storms and the radius of maximum winds and speed of forward motion for hurricanes were obtained from data analysis. Directions of landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms at the time they crossed the coast at selected points were also analyzed. The probability distribution of each factor was plotted and analyzed for each 50-n.mi. interval along the coast. Selected probability levels of each distribution were then summarized, and smoothed variations along the coast were obtained by analysis. The speed of motion for two classes of hurricanes (those that enetered the coast and those that passed within 150 n.mi. of the coast) were studied separately and a smooth speed analysis determined for each. The question of joint probability among the various factors and with latitude is discussed qualitatively.