Large values of vertical wind shear disrupt the incipient tropical cyclone and can prevent genesis, or, if a tropical cyclone has already formed, large vertical shear can weaken or destroy the tropical cyclone by interfering with the organization of deep convection around the cyclone center. The numbers range from none up to around five per year - with an average of around 2. Having lived on Hatteras Island in North Carolina for more than ten years, we have become accustomed to experienceing hurricanes. I believe that we have been touched by a hurricane each year since we ve been here. One might say that we should be used to them, but one never gets used to them, because you never know when it will be your turn to get the brute force of one making land fall on the island, with all the damages that can occur.
Hurricanes are so unpredictable.
It seems that no matter how much is known by the experts, they can be as wrong on any given situation as they are right. The latest hurricanes that terrorized Hatteras Island were Dennis and Floyd. Dennis caused us the most discomfort. Though Dennis was a category one hurricane, it lasted almost a week. Sustained winds of about 70 MPH with gusts of 128 MPH were measured at the lighthouse.