<P> Although wind damage is common to tropical cyclones near landmasses, there are a few factors that lead to high wind speeds . Warm water temperatures, which was seen during Hurricane Wilma when it winds rapidly strengthened to 185 mph (295 km / h) in a 24 - hour period due to the presence of abnormally warm water temperatures . Size and speed of the storm, which results in damage along a wide area as seen in Hurricane Isabel and Great New England Hurricane of 1938 . </P> <P> The winds in a tropical cyclone are the result of evaporation and condensation of moisture which results in updrafts . The updrafts in turn increase the height of the storm which causes more condensation . </P> <P> The strongest winds in a northern hemisphere tropical cyclone is located in the eyewall and the right front quadrant of the tropical cyclone . Severe damage is usually the result when the eyewall of a hurricane, typhoon or cyclone passes over land . The right front quadrant is also an area of a tropical cyclone were the winds are strongest . The reason that the winds are at the front right side of a storm in the northern hemisphere (and the front left hand side in the Southern Hemisphere) is because of the motion of a tropical cyclones motion contributing to its rotation . A 100 mph hurricane while stationary, might have winds of 100 mph on its right side in the northern hemisphere while the rest of the storm might have winds at 70 mph . The location of the right (or left in the Southern Hemisphere) front quadrant also depends on the storm track . For example, in the northern hemisphere, if the storm was moving west, then the right side is to the north, if it moving north, then the strongest winds will be to the east of the center . </P> <P> In the southern hemisphere, the strongest winds are to the left of the eye . That is because cyclonic winds below the equator, spin clockwise . </P>

Where are strongest winds found in a hurricane