[CNN] Here’s a look at what you need to know about the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from 1-Jun to 30-Nov.

Facts:

• The National Weather Service defines a hurricane as “an intense tropical weather system with well-defined circulation and sustained winds of 74mph (118kmh) or higher.”
• The peak of the season is from mid-August to late October.
• In the western Northern Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons.
• Similar storms in the Indian Ocean are called cyclones.
• Hurricanes are rated according to intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
• The 1-5 scale estimates potential property damage.
• A Category 3 or higher is considered a major hurricane.
• A hurricane watch indicates the possibility that a region could experience hurricane conditions within 48 hours.
• A hurricane warning indicates that tropical-storm-force winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 36 hours.

Continue reading Hurricane Season Fast Facts →