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Name Date Weather and Climate Topic Class/Subject Chapter 3, Section 2 (pg 80-89) Storms What is a thunderstorm and how does it form? A thunderstorm is a small storm often accompanied by heavy precipitation and frequent thunder and lightning. Thunderstorms form in large cumulonimbus clouds on hot, humid afternoons or when warm air is forced upward along a cold front. What is lightning and what Lightning is a sudden spark, or electrical discharge, as positive causes it? and negative charges that have built up in storm clouds jump between parts of a cloud, between nearby clouds, or between a cloud and the ground. What causes thunder? A lightning bolt can heat the air near it to as much as 30,000°C. The rapidly heated air expands suddenly and explosively. Thunder is the sound of the explosion. What kind of damage can a thunderstorm cause? Heavy rains can cause flooding. Lightning can shatter tree trunks or start forest fires, and can cause unconsciousness, serious burns, or even heart failure if it strikes people or animals. How do floods occur? Floods occur when so much water pours into a stream or river that its banks overflow, covering the surrounding land. In urban areas, floods can occur when the ground is already saturated by heavy rains. A flash flood is a sudden, violent flood that occurs shortly after a storm. What kind of safety precautions can you take for thunderstorms? During thunderstorms, avoid places where lightning may strike. Also avoid objects that can conduct electricity, such as metal objects and bodies of water. What is a tornado? A tornado is a rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down from a storm cloud to touch Earth’s surface. How do tornadoes form? Tornadoes most commonly develop in thick cumulonimbus clouds – the same clouds that bring thunderstorms. What is a “tornado alley”? A “tornado alley” is an area where tornadoes tend to occur more frequently because of normal weather patterns. What kind of damage do tornadoes cause? Tornado damage comes from both strong winds and flying debris. The low pressure inside the tornado sucks dust and other objects into the funnel. Tornadoes can move large objects and scatter debris many miles away. What kind of safety precautions can you take for tornadoes? A tornado “watch” indicates that a tornado is possible in the area. A tornado “warning” indicates that a tornado has been spotted. The safest place to be during a tornado is in a storm shelter or the basement of a well-built building. What is a hurricane? A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that has winds of 119 km/hr or higher. How do hurricanes form? A hurricane begins over warm ocean water as a low-pressure area, or tropical disturbance. If the tropical disturbance grows in size and strength, it becomes a tropical storm, which may then become a hurricane. How do hurricanes move? Hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean are steered by easterly trade winds toward the Caribbean islands and southeastern United States. After a hurricane passes over land, it no longer has warm, moist air to draw energy from and gradually loses its strength. What kind of damage do hurricanes cause? When a hurricane comes ashore, it brings high waves and severe flooding as well as wind damage. A storm surge, “dome” of water, sweeps across the coast where the hurricane lands, washing away beaches, destroying buildings, and eroding coastlines. What kind of safety precautions can you take for hurricanes? A “hurricane watch” indicates that hurricane conditions are possible in an area within the next 36 hours and you should be prepared to evacuate. A “hurricane warning” means that hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours and you should evacuate immediately. What is the difference between a winter storm and any other storm? All year round, most precipitation begins in the clouds as snow. If the air is colder than 0°C all the way to the gr ound, the precipitation falls as snow. What is lake-effect snow? As cold dry air moves across the warmer water, it becomes more humid as water vapor evaporates from the lake surface. When the air reaches land and cools, lake-effect snow falls. What kind of safety precautions can you take for snowstorms? If you are caught in a snowstorm, try to find shelter from the wind because blowing limits your vision and makes it easy to get lost, and strong winds cool a person’s body rapidly. Summary Thunderstorms form in large cumulonimbus clouds, also known as thunderheads. Tornadoes most commonly develop in thick cumulonimbus clouds – the same clouds that bring thunderstorms. A hurricane begins over warm ocean water as a low-pressure area, or tropical disturbance. All year round, most precipitation begins in clouds as snow. No matter what the type of storm, storms can cause damage, and safety precautions must be taken.