Hurricane Harvey is the strongest tropical hurricane to make landfall on Friday August 25,2017 in the United States after the category 5 Hurricane Wilma that ravaged Florida in 2005
Harvey is the eighth named Storm for the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season which formed near the Windward Islands on August 17.
The hurricane impacted Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Martinique and Dominica on the same day.
It accelerated westward as it approached Barbados around 8:00 pm at a speed of 18 mph (30km/h) and brought maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65km/h) with higher gusts. NHC has predicted an increased wind speed of 140 miles per hour (225km/h) and 40 inches of rain (1 metre) as it makes landfall in Texas.
Hurricanes derive their energy from heated seawater which can be prevented by presence of upper-level-winds that disrupt the storm circulation forcing it to lose its strength.
Hurricane Rating
Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale ranging between 1-5 based on the wind speed.
Hurricanes categorised under 3 and above are considered major hurricanes as they cause severe damage to life and property in its route.
Harvey which has now been upgraded to category 4 is the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in US after Wilma that occurred in 2005 in Florida.
Harvey is the strongest hurricane to make impact in Texas after the 1961 Hurricane Carla.
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