7+ When is Hurricane Landfall? Criteria & Facts

when is a hurricane considered to have made landfall

7+ When is Hurricane Landfall? Criteria & Facts

The moment a hurricane’s eye moves over the coast, it is generally considered to have reached land. This determination is crucial for issuing warnings, initiating disaster response, and assessing the storm’s immediate impact. For instance, if the center of a hurricane passes directly over a coastal city, that constitutes a definitive occurrence.

Establishing precisely when this happens is important because it marks a critical transition in a storm’s behavior. Upon reaching land, a hurricane begins to weaken as it loses its source of energywarm ocean waters. This information informs resource allocation, evacuation strategies, and predictions of inland flooding and wind damage. Historically, accurate determination of this event has saved lives and mitigated property damage.

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