How Much Does A Hurricane WeiHow Much Does A Hurricane Weigh?gh?

As reported by As reported by Robert KrulwichRobert Krulwich

on Morning Editionon Morning Edition

onon

Wednesday, September 29, 2010Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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• By Claire E. WattsBy Claire E. Watts

Do you know how much a hurricane Do you know how much a hurricane weighs?weighs?

The water in a regular cumulous (cume-The water in a regular cumulous (cume-u-lus) cloud weighs about 216 thousand u-lus) cloud weighs about 216 thousand

pounds. pounds. (216,000 lbs!)(216,000 lbs!)

Do you now how much a hurricane Do you now how much a hurricane weighs?weighs?

• The water in a regular cloud weighs about 216 The water in a regular cloud weighs about 216 thousand pounds. (216,000 lbs)thousand pounds. (216,000 lbs)

That’s about two-thirds of a blue whale.That’s about two-thirds of a blue whale.

Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus (cume-u-low-nim-bus)(cume-u-low-nim-bus)

• Cumulonimbus clouds are the dark Cumulonimbus clouds are the dark storm clouds.storm clouds.

• An average Cumulonimbus cloud An average Cumulonimbus cloud weighs approximately 105.8 million weighs approximately 105.8 million pounds, or 358 Blue Whales!pounds, or 358 Blue Whales!

equals 358 of these.1 of these,

HurricanesHurricanes

Hurricanes carry 108 billion pounds of water. Hurricanes carry 108 billion pounds of water.

That’s 108,000,000,000 poundsThat’s 108,000,000,000 pounds

OROR

360,000 Blue Whales.360,000 Blue Whales.

That is more Blue Whales than live on the earth.That is more Blue Whales than live on the earth.

Hurricanes share all that Hurricanes share all that water water

byby

RainingRaining

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