Storms By: Laura Dochniak and Jordan Durst

Types of Storms Blizzard Sandstorm Hurricane Ice Storm Squall Thunderstorm Tornado Typhoon

Blizzards A Blizzard is a severe snowstorm with strong winds with a minimum speed of 35miles per hour, also has either falling snow or snow on the ground. Blizzards are formed when a high pressure system, also known as a ridge, interacts with a low pressure system; this results in the advection of air from the high pressure zone into the low pressure area.

Sandstorms A sandstorm is characterized by high winds which carry great clouds of dust, usually in an area that has undergone a long period of drought. Also known as a Dust Storm. They are formed by unidirectional wind.

Hurricane A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs over the warmer areas. The cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms and extremely high winds and heavy rains that often causes damage in coastal areas. Hurricanes form and intensify over oceanic regions. They require sea- surface temperatures of at least 80° and the influence of the earth’s rotation to initiate a spinning circulation.

Ice Storm is a winter storm that has freezing rain causes a glaze of ice on all exposed objects. It happens when a warm cloud rains above a layer of colder air. however it remains in liquid form. The super cooled droplets freeze into ice on impact when they fall onto a surface. They occur when a layer of warm air is between two layers of cold air.

Squall A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed (18mph - 25mph) that is usually associated with brief and heavy precipitation. This usually occurs in a squall line. It occurs because there is active weather conditions such as, rain showers, thunderstorms, or heavy snow.

Thunderstorms A thunderstorm is a storm that has lighting and thunder, strong gusty winds, heavy rain, and occasionally hail. Sometimes thunderstorms produce tornadoes

Tornadoes A violent, whirling storm of small size, it is usually very destructive. Formed when huge masses of clouds moving in different directions meet. The air starts to spin in a spiral and a funnel of twisting air, low pressure inside the funnel sucks up anything it touches. It can travel across land at very high speeds and its roaring noise is heard up to 40km away.

Typhoon A typhoon is a tropical cyclone that is similar to a hurricane, except that it occurs over the western Pacific Ocean and its shores. Forms when wind blows over warm waters, it expands and rises.

Hail Storm A Hail Storm is a storm where ice chunks, differing in size, fall and cause a lot of damage. Hail is most frequently formed in the interior of continents within the mid-latitudes of Earth, with hail generally confined to higher elevations within the tropics. Hail formation is preferred during the summer months in the afternoon and evening hours of the day. Hailstorms normally last 3–15 minutes.

Common Storms in North America Thunderstorms Hailstorms Tornadoes Blizzards

How are Thunderstorms Created Thunderstorms are created when cooler air begins to push warmer humid air upwards. As the warm air continues to rise rapidly in an unstable atmosphere, the cloud builds up higher and higher and begins to spread. Thunderstorms can quickly develop when the atmosphere remains unstable or if it is able to gather additional energy from surrounding winds.

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