The National Hurricane Center near Miami constantly watches the North Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico ocean waters for tropical disturbances. When counter-clockwise circular movement reaches 39 miles per hour they are tropical storms and when it reaches 74 miles per hour they are hurricane.
A hurricane's most deadly force is usually the storm surge. Ocean tides rise dramatically, creating large waves which hit the shore with great force and far beyond the reach of normal waves. Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30.