A hurricane, a powerful tropical cyclone, originates over warm ocean waters. It features a low-pressure center called the eye, where winds are calm and skies are clear. Surrounding the eye is the eyewall, the storm's most intense area, with the strongest winds and heaviest rains. Spiral rainbands extend outward, bringing thunderstorms and severe weather. Hurricanes are categorized by wind speed using the Saffir-Simpson scale, ranging from Category 1 (74-95 mph) to Category 5 (157 mph or higher). These storms can cause devastating winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and flooding, impacting coastal and inland areas alike.
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