Hurricanes

A hurricane is a storm with winds in excess of 74 miles per hour that develops out in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane season lasts from the beginning of June to the end of September, with August and September as the peak month. Although hurricanes are often thought of as coastal storms, they can track inland for hundreds of miles. For example, Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 brought heavy rains to southern Vermont. The destructive force of hurricanes lies not only with their strong winds but also in the torrential rains that generate flash floods and the tornadoes the storm can spawn.