Hurricane Fifi facts for kids

Hurricane Fifi (later known as Hurricane Orlene) was a very strong and deadly hurricane that hit Central America in 1974. It caused a lot of damage and was one of the worst natural disasters ever to hit Honduras at that time.

What Was Hurricane Fifi?

Hurricane Fifi started as a tropical storm near Jamaica in September 1974. It quickly grew stronger as it moved west. A hurricane is a huge, powerful storm with very strong winds and heavy rain. Fifi became a Category 2 hurricane, which means its winds were very fast and dangerous.

Fifi's Path and Impact

Fifi first hit land in Honduras as a Category 2 hurricane. It brought massive rainfall and strong winds. This caused terrible floods and mudslides across the country. Many homes and buildings were destroyed. The storm also caused a lot of damage to farms and roads.

After hitting Honduras, Fifi moved across Central America. It weakened into a tropical storm and then a tropical depression. A tropical depression is a weaker storm with less organized winds.

From Fifi to Orlene

Even after weakening, Fifi didn't disappear. It moved over land and then into the Pacific Ocean. When a storm crosses from the Atlantic to the Pacific, it often gets a new name. So, Fifi was renamed Hurricane Orlene.

Orlene's Journey

Once in the Pacific, Orlene started to get stronger again. It quickly became a hurricane once more, reaching Category 2 strength. Orlene then moved towards Mexico. It made landfall in Mexico, bringing more strong winds and rain. After hitting the mountains in Mexico, Orlene finally weakened and became an extratropical storm. This means it changed from a tropical storm system to a different type of weather system.

Images for kids

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  Hurricane Orlene on September 23 just prior to its landfall upon northwest Mexico

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  Radar image of Hurricane Fifi nearing landfall in Belize

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Fifi-Orlene para niños