Hurricanes

Find out everything there is to know about hurricanes and stay updated on the latest news with the comprehensive articles, interactive features and pictures of hurricanes at LiveScience.com. Learn more about these natural disasters as scientists continue to make amazing discoveries about hurricanes.

Related Topics: Ocean, Natural Disasters, Global Warming, Weather

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Cyclone Freddy between Mozambique and Madagascar on March 8. The image was captured by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite.

Deadly cyclone 'Freddy' may be the longest-lived and most energetic storm ever recorded

By Harry Baker published

Cyclone Freddy, which is finally dissipating after battering Southeast Africa, has crossed the entire Indian Ocean and made landfall three separate times.

After damaging parts of Cuba and leaving much of the country in the dark, Hurricane Ian reached Florida’s west coast on the afternoon of Sept. 28.

Is Atlantic hurricane season getting worse (and is climate change to blame)?

By Joshua A. Krisch published

Recent studies have linked climate change to environmental conditions that fuel hurricane season.

Astronaut Bob Hines captured this image of Hurricane Ian's massive eye on Sept. 28 while aboard the International Space Station.

Peer into Hurricane Ian’s 'eye' in this photo that an astronaut snapped from space

By Elizabeth Howell published

An International Space Station astronaut photographed Hurricane Ian as the powerful storm battered Florida. NASA, SpaceX and others have postponed launches from the Space Coast.

satellite photo shows hurricane ian as it moves towards cuba in the Caribbean Sea east of Belize

Hurricane Ian stayed strong after smashing into Cuba. Why?

By Nicoletta Lanese published

How did Hurricane Ian remain so monstrous even after hitting Cuba?

satellite image of hurricane ian as its eye moved off of cuba and into the gulf of mexico

Hurricane Ian to unleash 'life-threatening' flooding in Florida as Category 4 storm

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Hurricane Ian will make landfall in Florida on Sept. 28.

A graphic shows hurricane ian's current position south of cuba, and traces its projected path over western cuba and to the west florida coast

Hurricane Ian to reach Category 3 before hitting Cuba, turning toward West Florida

By Nicoletta Lanese published

Hurricane Ian is approaching Cuba and the western Florida coast.

A home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina seen on Jan. 7, 2006, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Which hurricane caused the most damage?

By Michael Dhar published

Hurricane Katrina was the most expensive hurricane in history, while a 1780 storm killed the most people of any hurricane.

A digitally enhanced NASA image of hurricane Michael in 2018.

How are hurricanes named?

By Patrick Pester published

Hurricanes often have surprisingly common human names that don't sound very threatening. But where do these names come from?

Toward the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, the International Space Station orbits about 259 miles (417 kilometers) above Trinidad and Tobago as Hurricane Sam churns in the Atlantic Ocean in the fall of 2021.

Hurricane season 2022: How long it lasts and what to expect

By Tia Ghose published

This guide to the Atlantic hurricane season of 2022, includes predictions, tropical storm science, naming conventions and storm safety tips.

A visible satellite image of Hurricane Ida approaching land in the Gulf of Mexico, taken by NOAA's GOES-16 (GOES East) satellite at 4:10 a.m. EDT on August 29, 2021.

Expect another above-average hurricane season in 2022, NOAA predicts

By Harry Baker published

NOAA has announced that the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be more active than average for the seventh year in a row.

The GeoEye-1 satellite captured this image of flooding in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Sept. 2, 2021.

Satellite images show extreme flooding in New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida

By Chelsea Gohd published

The epic storm that swept across the eastern United States this week hit New Jersey so hard that satellites saw the damage from space.

The massive Hurricane Ida is easily visible on Earth from 1 million miles away as seen by NOAA's Deep Space Climate Observatory in orbit at a stable Lagrange point on Aug. 29, 2021 as the storm made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 storm.

See Hurricane Ida from 1 million miles away in this NOAA satellite view

By Tariq Malik published

The sheer size of Hurricane Ida when it made landfall on Sunday was clearly visible from a NOAA satellite 1 million miles away.

A man seeks shelter at a bus stop on Canal Street in New Orleans as Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 29.

Why did Hurricane Ida stay so strong for so long?

By Stephanie Pappas published

Coastal Louisiana provided Hurricane Ida with enough fuel to power major hurricane winds for hours.

Hurricane Ida picks up steam in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021.

'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Ida makes landfall in Louisiana with 150 mph winds

By Tia Ghose published

Hurricane Ida, an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane, made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, at 11:55 a.m. local time on Sunday.

Hurricane Ida picks up steam in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021.

Hurricane Ida could slam into Louisiana just shy of Category 5

By Jeanna Bryner published

Short clip shows tropical storm ida passing over western cuba

Storm Ida could slam into Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The Governor of Louisiana has declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm.

Hurricane Henri churns in the Atlantic Ocean as it nears the U.S. northeast coast near Long Island, New York in this photo by NASA astronaut Megan McArthur taken on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, from the International Space Station.

Astronauts and satellites watch Hurricane Henri from space as US Northeast braces for storm

By Tariq Malik published

As parts of New England brace for Hurricane Henri to make landfall in New York Sunday (Aug. 22), astronauts and satellites are tracking the historic storm from space.

Hurricane Elsa, seen here in a photo captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station on July 4, was the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season, and the earliest fifth named storm on record.

This hurricane season will be even more active than previously predicted, NOAA says

By Mindy Weisberger published

Storm formation during the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season will be higher than previously predicted, according to an update by NOAA scientists.

Tropical Storm Elsa approaches Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.

Tropical Storm Elsa churns toward Florida's Gulf Coast

By Jeanna Bryner published

Tropical Storm Elsa is approaching north Florida's Gulf Coast, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h).

Elsa reached hurricane status on Friday, July 2, 2021.

Hurricane Elsa, 1st of season, could hit Florida next week

By Laura Geggel published

Elsa, The first hurricane of the 2021 season, formed on Friday (July 2).