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From it's start as a tropical disturbance, hurricanes feature heavy rain, thunderstorms, and wind gusts. Storms aren't only dangerous when the storm reaches category 5 status with winds above 155 mph. Every stage of a hurricane's life cycle presents a threat to life and property. Hurricanes can spread incredible destruction, even after making landfall as downgraded tropical storms.

The best way to understand the life cycle of a hurricane is to look, step by step, at the life of one hurricane. In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel caused extensive damage along the North East Coast, despite the fact that it was no longer an actual hurricane. Maryland doesn't experience many hurricanes, thankfully. However, in my lifetime, two storms stand out. Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and Hurricane Isabel in 2003. I remember the pounding rain of Agnes as a 4-year-old child. I remember fearing for my life as an adult with a small child in 2003.

Tropical waves

Hurricanes begin as tropical "waves" or collections of clouds in the Atlantic. Not just any cloud can become the seed of a monster storm. Tropical waves are low-pressure troughs of wind that blows east to west. Isabel began her life as a tropical wave near the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa. Isabel found everything she needed for fuel near these islands: deep and warm, 80-degree ocean water and light upper winds. This gentle environment helped organize this young storm.

Tropical depression

Isabel became a tropical depression quickly, organizing into a system of clouds and thunderstorms with minor wind circulation patterns. Isabel began to assume her spiral shape at this stage and her winds as tropical depressions did not exceed the 38 mph limit for a depression. At this stage, low barometric pressure can be measured at the center of these thunderstorm clusters; another feature of a developing hurricane.

Tropical storm

Isabel graduated from a tropical depression to a tropical storm in the space of a day. She received her official name, as all storms do, and continued on a north, northwest path across the Atlantic Ocean. Isabel graduated from tropical depression to tropical storms as her winds reached 39 mph. Tropical storm force winds can range from 39 to 73 mph. During this tropical storm stage, the eye develops at the center of the storm from sinking air that dries and warms the center of the storm. The eye contains clear weather and light winds. Just outside the eye, the eye wall is developing its distinctive towering

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