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. Hurricane Andrew in south Florida was unusual in that most of its billions of dollars in damage was due to wind. Views of hurricanes from satellites located thousands of miles above the earth show how unique these powerful, tightly coiled weather systems are.
Hurricanes are products of the tropical ocean and atmosphere.
Powered by heat from the sea, they are steered by the easterly trade winds and the temperate westerlies as well as by their own ferocious energy. Around their core, winds grow with great velocity, generating violent seas. Moving ashore, they sweep the ocean inward while spawning tornadoes and producing torrential rains and floods. Many of these remain over the ocean. However, about five hurricanes strike the United States coastline every three years.