A Hurricane’s Energy is 200 times the Electricity Generating Capacity of the Whole World

Let's start with hurricanes, which have a low-pressure "eye" in the center and several thunderstorms circling it. You are presumably aware of the significant energy release caused by these major tropical cyclones. But how much actually is a lot?

Possibly the most terrible natural phenomenon that any of us will ever experience is a hurricane. We have all seen the evidence of the devastation that hurricanes can do, and their capacity for destruction is difficult to believe. However, how strong is that horrifying force? The enormous magnitude really helps you put things in perspective.

A hurricane will discharge as much energy as 10,000 nuclear weapons from the moment it is created through its cycle of destruction and death. To put it another way, all of that energy—which includes the energy used to build clouds and rain—is equivalent to nearly 200 times the amount of power produced worldwide. Just one hurricane, that. There are several other storms that do not quite qualify as hurricanes, giving us an annual average of roughly six.

• Power releases: 10,000 nuclear weapons