For additional information visit the National Hurricane Center or the USA Today Hurricane Information Page . When these conditions occur, pre-existing disturbances of many types can begin to organize into a tropical depression, then a tropical storm, then a hurricane. Here, disturbances move westward from Africa several times a week that have the potential to strengthen.
Hurricane damage is due to both wind and water.
The more commonly visible damage is from wind, which can be devastating to buildings and vegetation. Torrential rains can cause devastating flooding and mud slides, especially in areas with hills or mountains. However, the largest losses of life and greatest damage are more often due to the storm surge and high water levels. The shape of the coastline, and the slope of the underwater ocean floor near the coast, influence how the storm surge from an approaching storm will affect the water that comes onshore. On top of the storm surge can be waves up to 40 feet high.