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CNN Live At Daybreak

Ask CNN: Why is the Eye of a Hurricane Calm and the Rest Very Violent?

Aired August 07, 2001 - 07:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK EDWARDS, NORCROSS, GEORGIA: Hi, my name is Mark Edwards and I'm from Norcross, Georgia. I wanted to ask CNN: Why is the eye of a hurricane calm and the rest very violent?

MAX MAYFIELD, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: The strongest winds of the hurricane are really found in the eyewall region. That's this doughnut that surrounds the eye and can have maximum sustained winds of well over a hundred miles per hour. The eye itself is much, much calmer. The air that goes up in the eyewall sinks and that sinking air is what gives it the clear spot in the eye and the winds will lighten up considerably as you get into the eye. But if the eye is moving across you, you need to remember that even though the winds go very, very calm, once the back side of the eyewall comes over you, they'll pick up again so you need to be aware of that.

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