MyWeather.com Dispels 5 Hurricane Myths and Introduces New Hurricane Tracking Feature

MADISON, Wis., Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As hurricane season ramps up, MyWeather.com is offering critical information to those at risk of tropical storms and hurricanes by revealing the science behind the storms and by debunking common myths. MyWeather also has launched a new hurricane tracking feature for its popular website, as well as its iPhone and Android apps, that will let users view and interact with the projected forecast path of any active hurricanes, tropical storms or tropical depressions in the Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

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With extreme weather affecting the U.S. this year and meteorologists predicting an equally severe 2011 hurricane season, MyWeather offers a list of the Top 5 hurricane myths and exposes the truth behind them, giving people the information they need to protect themselves against potentially fatal weather.

MyWeather debunks the following myths and reveals the truths behind the science of hurricanes:

1) Myth:  The area and size of a hurricane determines the severity of its impact.

Truth: The Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes hurricanes based on 1-minute sustained wind speeds. A large-sized storm doesn't necessarily have strong winds, and vice versa. Hurricane Andrew, for example – a category 5 storm – was one of the most destructive hurricanes in history, but it was also one of the smallest in size. The heaviest rains are typically produced by slow-moving storms, no matter the size or intensity. View this video from MyWeather for more information about storm categories.

2) Myth: If you're not on the coast, you don't need to be concerned about hurricanes.

Truth: Hurricanes and tropical storms can create significant damage inland. In 1995, Hurricane Opal brought high winds and flash flooding from northern Alabama to western Virginia as it moved north. View this video from MyWeather for more information on inland flooding.

3) Myth: Stronger storms produce a higher storm surge, which is the deadliest part of a hurricane.

Truth: A storm surge is a dome of water pushed ashore as the hurricane nears the coast. A storm's intensity isn't the only factor in play when it comes to storm surge. If the shape of the coastline and the storm's angle of approach are just right, a weaker storm might still produce a large surge. Other variables affecting storm surge include wind radius, forward speed and air pressure.

The dome of the storm surge moves across the shoreline as the hurricane makes landfall. During high tide, the dome can be as much as 100 miles wide and 20 feet deep. While a storm surge can be deadly, more people die from inland flooding and flash floods of rivers and streams because they underestimate the power of moving water. View this video from MyWeather to see how a storm surge works.

4) Myth: Hurricanes and typhoons are completely different types of storms.

Truth: Aside from the name, the composition of hurricanes and typhoons is exactly the same. Tropical systems with wind speeds in excess of 74 mph are called "hurricanes" in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the Caribbean. To the west of the International Date Line, these storms are known as "typhoons." It's worth noting that the Australians have their own name for hurricanes/typhoons – they call them "willy-willys."

5) Myth: Under an evacuation order, there's no real need to evacuate until the weather gets bad.

Truth: Storm path forecasts can change rapidly, so waiting until the last minute to evacuate can leave you without an escape route. Evacuation orders are issued early enough to allow time for people to get to shelter. Even if the weather seems calm, gather what you need, secure your home and leave as soon as you can. Be sure to bring your identification, prescriptions and cash, as you may not be able to use credit cards immediately after the storm.

With MyWeather.com's new hurricane tracking tool, residents in high risk coastal areas and their loved ones can turn to MyWeather for essential information that can help keep them out of danger. The hurricane tracker tab displays a red badge when a tropical storm is active, so users can see the number of active tropical storms at a glance. The tracking tool shows color-coded icons along the forecast path, depicting the current and projected category of a storm with precision. Users are also able to click on the forecasted positions of a storm to see projected details for wind speed along with interactive animations for radar and clouds. The raw output data behind the forecast models for any active storm can also be accessed to see what's driving the official National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast path. For weather history buffs, there's also a feature to view the paths of past storms with the new "Past Hurricanes" tab.

A weather experience for the Facebook generation, MyWeather.com delivers the most personal and precise suite of weather products for consumers anywhere on the globe, offering users completely personalized weather reports tailored for their lives, locations, and interests, whether they're online or on the go.

About MyWeather & Weather Central, LP:

MyWeather was created by Weather Central, LP (WXC.com), to provide consumers with personalized, precise, portable weather data and graphics online and on mobile devices. Weather Central, founded in 1974 by broadcasters and meteorologists based in Madison, Wisconsin, is the leading provider of professional on-air, online, print, mobile, and enterprise weather solutions and forecasting in North America and to major customers worldwide. Utilizing the company's dynamic weather graphics, precise forecast models and data, and patented technology, more than 1000 partners and hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide benefit from Weather Central's attention to weather presentation, detail and insight. For more information please visit MyWeather.com, like facebook.com/myweather, watch youtube.com/myweather and follow @myweather.

Contact:
Kyle Giunta
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SOURCE MyWeather.com