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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An aerial view of the flooded neighborhood of Juana Matos in Puerto Rico, on Sept. 22, 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico's Hilly Terrain Worsened Hurricane Maria's Damage

By Andrea Thompson published

Hilly terrain boosted rainfall totals and sent floods cascading.

An aerial view of Roseau, the capital of the Caribbean island of Dominica, reveals destruction wrought by Hurricane Maria that passed over Sept. 18 as a Category 4 storm.

Hurricane Maria's Aftermath: Photos Reveal Devastation on Caribbean Islands

By Jeanna Bryner published

Photos show how Hurricane Maria devastated several Caribbean Islands, including Puerto Rico.

NOAA's GOES East satellite captured this visible image of Hurricane Maria on Sept. 22, 2017, at 10 a.m. EDT as the storm was nearing the Bahamas.

Hurricane Maria Pounds Turks and Caicos As It Heads to the Bahamas

By Jeanna Bryner published

Hurricane Maria is now passing northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands with destructive 125-mph (205 km/h) winds, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

hurricane maria

Astronaut's Dramatic Photos Show Hurricane Maria Raging Over Puerto Rico

By Hanneke Weitering published

In Cocoa, Florida, Hurricane Irma has recently washed ashore a wooden canoe that may date from hundreds of years ago.

Hurricane Irma Unearths Another Surprise on Florida Shore

By Sarah B. Puschmann published

After the floodwaters from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma stirred up quite a few terrors, the latest discovery resulting from the storms — a wooden canoe — may come as a relief.

Hurricane Maria Wind Speeds

Could Hurricane Maria Make Landfall in the US?

By Laura Geggel published

Hurricane Maria is wreaking havoc on Puerto Rico today, but will the storm's fierce winds make landfall on the mainland United States?

hurricane maria

In Photos: Hurricane Maria Seen from Space

By Christine Lunsford published

Hurricane Maria peaked as a massive Category 5 storm as it rolled across the Caribbean in September 2017. See photos of Hurricane Maria from space by satellites in our gallery here.

The island of Saint Maarten after hurricane Irma hit the Dutch Caribbean Island.

Hurricane Irma's Wake: Caribbean's Scars Will Likely Last Years

By Andrea Thompson published

The Caribbean is still reeling after Hurricane Irma, and now the region is being pummeled by Hurricane Maria. How will this part of the world recover?

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Human-Caused Climate Change Could Doom Coastal Cities, Neil Tyson Says

By Laura Geggel published

Fangtooth eel

Mysterious Fanged Eel Washes Ashore During Hurricane Harvey

By Laura Geggel published

Hurricane Harvey stranded a mysterious fanged eel on the beach in Texas, leaving the animal to die, rot and bloat. But despite its untimely end, the creature has since become an internet star.

Irma

Hurricane Irma: How Good Were the Forecasts?

By Andrea Thompson published

Overall, the models did a good job, but they can still be improved.

Irma

No, We Can't Control Hurricanes from Space

By Jesse Emspak published

As Hurricane Irma winds down, some have asked why we can't control hurricanes.

Palm trees in wind

How do palm trees withstand hurricanes?

By Laura Geggel last updated

Trees generally snap, or at least lose a few branches, when faced with hurricane-strength winds. Not palm trees. These staples of the tropics typically bend during gusty weather.

Tampa Bay during Hurricane Irma

How Hurricane Irma's Winds (Temporarily) Drained Tampa Bay

By Laura Geggel published

hurricane harvey before and After

Hurricane Harvey Before and After: Satellite Images Show Storm's Destruction

By Denise Chow published

Here are some before-and-after satellite images of Texas that show the devastation caused by Harvey.

Hurricane Irma Siphons Water from Shore, Strands 2 Manatees

By Mindy Weisberger published

In Sarasota Bay in Manatee County, a pair of massive manatees were temporarily left high and dry.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES East satellite captured this visible image of Hurricane Irma at 10:37 a.m. EDT on Saturday (Sept. 9) when it was a Category 4 storm.

Hurricane Irma by the Numbers

By Sarah B. Puschmann published

Take a look at some key numbers related to Hurricane Irma.

Irma cloud-top temps

Hurricane Irma: Everything You Need to Know About This Monster Storm

By Jeanna Bryner, Denise Chow published

To help you stay on top of the storm's development, Live Science has compiled everything you need to know about Hurricane Irma.

hurricane harvey aftermath

Hurricane Harvey Caused 500,000-Year Floods in Some Areas

By Tia Ghose published

Hurricane Harvey, over the course of five days, dumped an unprecedented level of rainfall expected based on probabilities.

Irma Heads North, Downgraded to a Tropical Storm

By Mindy Weisberger published

Irma, now weakened to a tropical storm, is still producing some wind gusts that are close to hurricane strength.