As a hurricane approaches, the skies will begin to darken and winds will grow in strength. As a hurricane nears land, it can bring torrential rains, high winds, and storm surges. A single hurricane can last for more than two weeks over open waters and can run a path across the entire length of the eastern seaboard. August and September are peak months for hurricane activity, thought the season lasts from June 1 through November 30. The 74 to 160 mile per hour winds of a hurricane can extend inland for hundreds of miles.
Hurricanes can spawn tornadoes, which add to the destructiveness of the storm.
Torrential rains also result in floods and flash floods of inland streams and rivers causing further damage and potential loss of life. The surge can devastate coastal communities as it sweeps ashore. Nine out of 10 hurricane related fatalities are attributable to the storm surge. The entire Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, from Maine to Texas, are vulnerable to hurricanes. Tropical areas of the western Pacific, including Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa, are also open to destructive hurricanes.