Hurricane Dolly facts for kids

Hurricane Dolly was a powerful tropical storm that became the first hurricane to hit the United States in 2008. It struck south central Texas in July 2008 with very strong winds. Even though Dolly caused a lot of damage, estimated to be between $1 billion and $2 billion, thankfully no one died in Texas because of the storm. Because of this, the name Dolly was not "retired" from the list of hurricane names. When a hurricane causes a lot of deaths or damage, its name is usually taken off the list so it can't be used again.

What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a huge, spinning storm that forms over warm ocean waters. It has strong winds and heavy rain. These storms are also known as tropical cyclones. Depending on where they form, they can be called hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones. Hurricanes get their energy from warm ocean water. They can cause a lot of damage when they reach land.

How Hurricanes Form

Hurricanes start as tropical disturbances, which are just areas of thunderstorms. If the ocean water is warm enough (at least 80°F or 26.5°C) and there's not too much wind shear (changes in wind speed or direction), these disturbances can grow. The warm, moist air rises, cools, and forms clouds and thunderstorms. As more air rises, it creates an area of low pressure at the surface. Air from surrounding areas rushes in to fill this low pressure, and the Earth's rotation makes the air spin. This spinning system can then become a tropical depression, then a tropical storm, and finally a hurricane if its winds get strong enough.

Hurricane Categories

Hurricanes are measured using the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. This scale ranks hurricanes from Category 1 to Category 5 based on their wind speed.

• Category 1: Winds 74-95 mph (119-153 km/h) - Can cause some damage to homes and power lines.
• Category 2: Winds 96-110 mph (154-177 km/h) - Can cause major damage to homes and widespread power outages.
• Category 3: Winds 111-129 mph (178-208 km/h) - Can cause devastating damage, including structural damage to homes.
• Category 4: Winds 130-156 mph (209-251 km/h) - Can cause catastrophic damage, destroying homes and leaving areas uninhabitable.
• Category 5: Winds 157 mph (252 km/h) or higher - The strongest hurricanes, causing extreme and widespread destruction.

Hurricane Dolly hit Texas as a Category 2 hurricane, with winds around 100 miles per hour.

Dolly's Path and Impact

Hurricane Dolly first formed in the Atlantic Ocean and moved across the Caribbean Sea. It strengthened as it moved closer to the Gulf of Mexico.

Landfall in Texas

Dolly made landfall, meaning it hit land, on Padre Island, Texas on July 23, 2008. It was a Category 2 hurricane at that time. The storm brought very strong winds and heavy rainfall to parts of south central Texas.

Wind and Rain

The strong winds from Dolly caused a lot of damage to buildings, especially roofs. Many trees were knocked down, and power lines were broken, leaving thousands of homes without electricity. The heavy rain also caused flooding in some areas, which made it hard for people to travel and damaged more property.

Damage and Recovery

Even though Dolly caused a lot of damage, especially to homes and businesses, the good news is that no one died in Texas directly because of the storm. This was partly due to good preparation and people listening to warnings to evacuate or stay safe. After the storm passed, people worked hard to clean up and rebuild. The estimated damage of $1 billion to $2 billion shows how expensive it can be to recover from a major hurricane.

Hurricane Naming

Hurricanes are given names to make it easier to track them and talk about them. These names come from a list created by the World Meteorological Organization. The lists rotate every six years.

Why Names Are Retired

If a hurricane is extremely deadly or causes a lot of damage, its name is "retired." This means the name is taken off the list and will never be used again for another hurricane. This is done out of respect for the victims and to avoid confusion. Famous retired hurricane names include Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey. Since Hurricane Dolly did not cause any deaths in Texas, its name was not retired and could be used again in the future.