FIRST LEGO League Nature’s Fury United States Weather Hazards Professor Paul Sirvatka College of DuPage Meteorology 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry College of DuPage Meteorology Most comprehensive community college meteorology program in the nation. Courses include: – Intro to Meteorology – Severe and Unusual Weather – Forecasting – Intermediate Meteorology – Mesoscale Meteorology – Severe Weather Analysis – Thunderstorm Lab – Climate and Global Change Home of NEXLAB – comprehensive data web site Well-known for its storm chase program

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry NEXLAB

Natural Hazards Relating to Weather Avalanche or landslide Tornado or cyclone Earthquake Tsunami Flood Volcanic eruption Hurricane Wildfire Storm (wind, sand, blizzard, or rain) 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Billion Dollar Events 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Most Expensive Weather Disasters 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

2012 Weather Disasters 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Natural Disasters World-wide 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Deadliest US Disasters 1. Galveston, TX Hurricane ~ 10,000 Dead 2. San Francisco Earthquake ~ 3400 Dead 3. Great Okeechobee Hurricane, Florida Johnstown, PA Flood Hurricanes 10.Tri-state tornado Dead 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Thunderstorms 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Hail 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Annually Crop losses ~ $1.3 Billion Property Losses ~ $1 Billion

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Tornado Climatology There are more than 1000 tornadoes in the US per year. Harold Brooks - SSL

Tornado Frequency 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry All Tornadoes Significant Tornadoes Deadly Tornadoes

Still Nature’s Most Furious Wind 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Tornado Destruction House Destroyed 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Wind Storms 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Derechos Coastal Winds Volcano Blow Downs

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Lightning

Flashes per Square Mile per Year 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Flooding is the most common type of natural disaster worldwide - 40% of all natural disasters Flash flooding is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.- approximately 200 deaths per year Over the 10-year period from 1988 to 1997, floods cost the United States on average $3.7 billion per year

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Over 50% of flood-related drownings are vehicle-related.

Hurricanes 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Hurricane Tracks 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Winter Weather! 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Heavy Snow 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Over 70 percent of the nations roads are located in regions which receive more than five inches Over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy or icy pavement annually

Major Snow Storms Cause Major Impacts 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry A 1/2" accumulation on power lines can add 500 pounds of extra weight. Ice can increase the weight of branches by 30 times. The most devastating storms contain ice accumulations of an inch or more!

To some extent, all weather related disasters are predictable 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry

Preparedness is the Key 9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry What will you do?

9/8/2013Museum of Science and Industry Thanks and good luck on your projects! Paul Sirvatka College of DuPage Weather