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Severe Weather
Thunderstorms
• A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since
thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning.
• Thunderstorms have three stages in their life cycle: The developing
stage, the mature stage, and the dissipating stage
• Worldwide, there are an estimated 16 million thunderstorms each
year, and at any given moment, there are roughly 2,000
thunderstorms in progress. There are about 100,000 thunderstorms
each year in the U.S. alone. About 10% of these reach severe levels
Lightning & Thunder
• Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds, the air, or the
ground.
• Lightning is a bright flash of electricity produced by a thunderstorm. All thunderstorms
produce lightning and are very dangerous. If you hear the sound of thunder, then you are
in danger from lightning.
• Have you ever rubbed your feet across carpet and then touched a metal door handle? If so, then
you know that you can get shocked! Lightning works in the same way
• Lightning is approximately 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That is six times hotter than the
surface of the sun!
• Lightning is one of the oldest observed natural phenomena on earth. It can be seen in
volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires,, heavy snowstorms, in large
hurricanes, and obviously, thunderstorms.
• Lightning causes thunder! Energy from a lightning channel heats the air to around 18,000
degrees Fahrenheit. This causes the air to rapidly expand, creating a sound wave known
as thunder
Hurricanes
• A hurricane is a huge storm! It can be up to 600 miles across and have
strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 mph.
• Each hurricane usually lasts for over a week, moving 10-20 miles per hour
over the open ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact
with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their
power. Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an "eye"
in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise direction in the Southern
Hemisphere. The center of the storm or "eye" is the calmest part. It has
only light winds and fair weather.
• The Atlantic hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30, but most
hurricanes occur during the fall months. The Eastern Pacific hurricane
season is from May 15 to November 30.
Pictures of hurricanes
Hurricane or Typhoon?
What is the difference between a hurricane, tropical cyclone and
typhoon?
• Nothing except geography. Tropical storms occur in several of the
world's oceans, and except for their names, they are essentially the
same type of storm. In the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the
Eastern Pacific Ocean, they are called hurricanes. In the Western
Pacific Ocean, they are called typhoons. In the Indian Ocean, the Bay
of Bengal, and Australia, these types of storms are called cyclones.
Tornados
• A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from
the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Because wind is invisible, it is
hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of
water droplets, dust and debris. Tornadoes are the most violent of all
atmospheric storm
• Tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, including Australia, Europe,
Africa, Asia, and South America. Even New Zealand reports about 20
tornadoes each year. Two of the highest concentrations of tornadoes
outside the U.S. are Argentina and Bangladesh.
• Tornadoes can happen at any time of year. Tornadoes can also happen at
any time of day or night, but most tornadoes occur between 4–9 p.m.
Hail, Sleet & Freezing Rain
• Hail occurs during severe weather and not when it is freezing outside. Hail is
formed when an object, including dust or particles in the air, collides with
supercooled water. As the water freezes around the object, it begins to form an
ice pellet. It is formed by cumulonimbus clouds and can be linked with a
thunderstorm.
• Sleet occurs during winter weather and is a type of winter precipitation. Sleet is
frozen precipitation that falls as ice pellets that you may see bouncing off your
windshield, roof or the ground. Depending on the intensity and duration, sleet
can accumulate much like you see with snow.
• Freezing rain on the other hand, falls just like normal rain only it freezes on
contact with roads, trees, power lines and other structures since temperatures
are 32 degrees or below at the surface. Even light accumulations may cause
dangerous travel, while heavier amounts can be damaging.
• *Rain is the most common type of precipitation
Floods
• Flooding when water overflows onto land that is normally dry. Floods
can happen during heavy rains, when ocean waves come on shore, or
when snow melts too fast. Flooding may happen with only a few
inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. They can
occur quickly or over a long period and may last days, weeks, or
longer. Floods are the most common and widespread of all weatherrelated natural disasters.
• Flash floods are the most dangerous kind of floods, they are
unpredictable and fast. They can happen with little or no warning.
Watch vs. Warning
• A WATCH is issued when the conditions are favorable for a severe
weather event. It can cover parts of a state or several states.
A WARNING mean there is a serious threat to life and property to
those in the path of the storm. ACT now to find safe shelter! A
warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of
danger