The core of Hurricane Fausto is expected to pass well to the north of Hawaii but not before bringing dangerous swells to Hawaii. Fausto is slowly weakening and is expected to pass north of the state as a tropical storm from Tuesday into Wednesday.
As we ease more into hurricane season, there are a few risks and terminologies to understand, ensuring safety and preparedness.
As we navigate upcoming storms, let’s take a look at how experts measure the raw power of hurricanes.
HOW ARE HURRICANES RATED? THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE EXPLAINED
Although central pressure itself is not a hazard, it can sometimes indicate future changes in hurricane intensity, as strengthening often results in lower air pressure.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
Within the heart of a hurricane is an area of low pressure, which at sea level is about 1013 millibars.
This is essential to understand when forecasting the potential intensity and category of an upcoming hurricane.
GENEVIEVE NOW A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE AS STORM BARRELS THROUGH THE EASTERN PACIFIC
1013 millibars is a standard atmospheric pressure at sea level, representing a normal weight of air above the Earth, according to the National Weather Service.
A millibar is 1/1000 of a bar and is the amount of force required to move an object weighing 1 gram by 1 centimeter in 1 second.
According to NOAA, during a severe weather event, barometric pressure tends to be lower, while during fair weather, it tends to be higher.
If the pressure on a barometer begins to fall, it is a sign of approaching severe weather.
HURRICANE FAUSTO TO PASS NORTH OF HAWAII, BUT COULD STILL GENERATE DANGEROUS 15-FOOT WAVES
Each millibar range, whether high or low, helps determine a hurricane’s category and strength.
This is extremely important, as it gives forecasters and government officials an indication of what to expect in terms of damage to homes and other structures, flooding and evacuation warnings.
BATTERED AND BRUISED BERTHA WEAKENS AS ALL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE DISCONTINUED
This works hand-in-hand with the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, which has five categories, with low atmospheric pressure associated with stronger hurricanes.
