WEATHER WORDS

THUNDERSTORM  A Disturbance in the Earth’s atmosphere that involves lightning and thunder

TORNADOES  A violent windstorm that spirals around a rotating column of air of low pressure and moves in a narrow path over land.  Usually occurs when a cold front overtakes warm air.  Occurs in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States.

FUNNEL CLOUD  A rapidly rotating cloud stretching vertically  When a funnel cloud comes in contact with the ground, it is considered a tornado.

VORTEX  The movement of a liquid or gas in a spiral around a central axis.

HURRICANE  A massive rotating storm that originates over tropical oceans and has sustained winds of over 75 miles per hour  Hurricanes are in the Atlantic Ocean  Storms are named using an alphabetized system  Hurricanes are the severest storm

EYE WALL  A ring of spiraling clouds and thunderstorms that whirl around the storms center and extend upward.

HURRICANE ALIASES  Hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean are called typhoons  Hurricanes in the Indian Ocean are called cyclones  Hurricanes in Australia are called willi-willies