How ready are you if a tropical storm hits Florida? Take this quiz to test your knowledge about how tropical systems develop and help you prepare for hurricane season.

Keep track of how many answers you get right. Then share this with your friends and family.

Hurricane Frances approaches the coast of Fort Pierce, 2004. (PHOTO/AP)

1. At what wind speed does a tropical storm become a hurricane?
  1. 65 mph
  2. 70 mph
  3. 74 mph
  4. 80 mph

Hurricane Jeanne brings heavy winds and rain to Epcot, 2004. (PHOTO/AP)

2. Including tropical storms, how many cyclones made landfall in Florida in 2004?
  1. Three
  2. Four
  3. Five
  4. Six

The National Hurricane Center tracks Tropical Storms Irene and Jose, 2011. (PHOTO/AP)

3. TRUE or FALSE: Tropical storms can form before or after the June 1–November 30 hurricane season.
  1. True
  2. False

Publix in Bonita Springs stocks up on water ahead of Tropical Storm Isaac, 2012.

4. How much water should you have on hand as part of your emergency supplies?
  1. Three 20 oz. bottles per person
  2. 6-pack of 20 oz. bottles per person
  3. One gallon per person per day
  4. 24-pack of 20 oz. bottles per family

Evan-Amos / Wikimedia Commons

5. TRUE or FALSE: Putting duct tape on your windows will keep them from breaking during a storm.
  1. True
  2. False

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the busiest on record. (PHOTO/Supportstorm, Wikimedia Commons)

6. If every storm name is used in one year, what happens next?
  1. Hurricane season ends early
  2. The following year's names are used, starting with A
  3. Numbers are used, as in Tropical Storm 22, 23, etc.
  4. Greek letters are used, as in Tropical Storm Alpha, Beta, etc.

Hurricane Wilma approaches Cancun, Mexico, 2005. (PHOTO/AP)

7. On average, what are the peak months of the hurricane season?
  1. June–July
  2. July–August
  3. August–September
  4. September–October

National Hurricane Center officials track a late-year tropical storm, 2005.

8. How many total tropical disturbances develop on average during a single hurricane season?
  1. 100
  2. 75
  3. 50
  4. 25

Satellite image of Hurricanes Igor and Julia over the Atlantic Ocean, 2010. (PHOTO/NOAA)

9. On average, how many tropical systems actually develop into named storms in a single hurricane season?
  1. 16
  2. 14
  3. 12
  4. 10

Strong winds from Tropical Storm Debby in Ormond-By-The-Sea, 2012. (PHOTO/Brad Munson, Staff)

10. A tropical storm is named when its sustained winds reach what speed?
  1. 39 mph
  2. 44 mph
  3. 50 mph
  4. 55 mph

View of the eyewall of Hurricane Katrina as seen from a hurricane hunter aircraft, 2005. (PHOTO/NOAA)

11. On average, how wide is the eye of a fully developed hurricane?
  1. 5–10 miles
  2. 10–20 miles
  3. 20–30 miles
  4. 30–40 miles

Double red flags fly at Cocoa Beach as Hurricane Sandy passes offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, 2012. (PHOTO/Jerry Hume, Staff)

12. A hurricane WATCH is issued when landfall is possible within what time frame?
  1. 12 hours
  2. 24 hours
  3. 36 hours
  4. 48 hours

A mandatory evacuation in progress in Homestead as Hurricane Wilma approaches, 2005. (PHOTO/AP)

13. A hurricane WARNING is issued when landfall is possible within what time frame?
  1. 12 hours
  2. 24 hours
  3. 36 hours
  4. 48 hours

Flooding from Hurricane Charley in Central Florida, 2004.

14. The strongest hurricane on record to hit the U.S. occurred in what year?
  1. 1935
  2. 1978
  3. 1992
  4. 2005

Satellite image of Hurricane Charley over Florida, 2004. (PHOTO/AP)

15. In which quadrant is a tropical storm or hurricane the strongest?
  1. Front left
  2. Front right
  3. Rear left
  4. Rear right

Hurricane Ivan as seen from the International Space Station, 2004. (PHOTO/NASA)

16. In which direction do tropical storms rotate?
  1. Clockwise north of the Equator, counterclockwise south
  2. Counterclockwise north of the Equator, clockwise south
  3. Clockwise in the Atlantic, counterclockwise in the Pacific
  4. Counterclockwise in the Atlantic, clockwise in the Pacific

Flooding from Hurricane Sandy at the entrance to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in New York City, 2012. (PHOTO/AP)

17. What is a factor in 9 out of 10 hurricane-related deaths?
  1. Storm surge
  2. Lightning
  3. Wind
  4. Flooding

Damage from a tornado spawned by Hurricane Isaac that touched down near Vero Beach, 2012. (PHOTO/Irma Murillo, Staff)

18. TRUE or FALSE: Tropical storms moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico produce more tornadoes on average than storms moving ashore from the Atlantic Ocean.
  1. True
  2. False

Sanford residents send a message to Hurricane Isaac, 2012. (PHOTO/Marshall Stiles, Viewer)

19. Who chooses the names for tropical storms?
  1. National Hurricane Center
  2. U.S. Air Force hurricane hunters
  3. World Meteorological Organization
  4. The first person to classify a system as a tropical storm

Hurricane specialist Richard Pasch charts the progress of Tropical Storm Chris at the National Hurricane Center, 2006. (PHOTO/AP)

20. Where is the National Hurricane Center based?
  1. Washington, D.C.
  2. Houston, Texas
  3. Melbourne, Florida
  4. Miami, Florida

Tampa police drive down a flooded street after Hurricane Frances, 2004. (PHOTO/AP)

21. How often are tropical storm advisories issued if a storm is named, but doesn’t pose an immediate threat to land?
  1. Every 2 hours
  2. Every 3 hours
  3. Every 6 hours
  4. Every 12 hours

Satellite image of Tropical Storm Nadine, one of the longest-lasting Atlantic cyclones on record, 2012. (PHOTO/NASA)

22. What is the average lifespan of a tropical storm?
  1. 9 days
  2. 7 days
  3. 6 days
  4. 3 days

Hurricane Charley approaches Orlando, 2004.

23. What is the average forward speed of a hurricane?
  1. 5 mph
  2. 12 mph
  3. 18 mph
  4. 25 mph

Winds from Hurricane Wilma knock down trees in Old Naples, 2005. (PHOTO/)

24. TRUE or FALSE: The higher a tropical system’s pressure is, the stronger the storm is.
  1. True
  2. False

Hurricane Ike as seen from the International Space Station, 2008. (PHOTO/NASA)

25. Where do the strongest winds of a hurricane typically occur?
  1. In the outer bands of the storm
  2. At the edge of the storm when it makes landfall
  3. In the exact center of the storm
  4. Just outside the eye of the storm

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How did you do?

  • 0–6 points:  Consider this your early hurricane warning. Make sure you’re prepared now before a storm actually hits.
  • 7–13 points:  You may have a case of “hurricane amnesia.” Try again to brush up on your knowledge.
  • 14–19 points:  You know how to prepare for a hurricane, but it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on some facts.
  • 20–24 points:  You’re ready for a storm, but may have missed a few things. Try again for a perfect score!
  • 25 points:  You’re a true Hurricane Hunter, prepared for any severe weather that comes your way.