Storms

Storms A storm is a violent disturbance in the atmosphere 4 major types of storms: Thunderstorms Tornadoes Hurricanes Snowstorms A meteorologist is a scientist who studies weather and tries to predict it

Thunderstorms A thunderstorm is a small storm often accompanied by heavy precipitation and frequent thunder and lightning. Form in large cumulonimbus clouds (also called thunderheads) on hot, humid afternoons

Thunderstorms Warm, humid air rises rapidly and the air cools, forming dense thunderhead clouds Heavy rain falls, sometimes along with hail Within the thunderhead cloud there are strong updrafts and downdrafts

Lightning Lightning is a sudden spark, or electrical discharge Positive and negative charges jump between parts of a cloud, or between nearby clouds, or between a cloud and the ground

Thunderstorms Lightning heats the air to 30,000oC Thunder is the sound of the rapidly heated air expanding suddenly and explosively Since light travels faster than sound we see lightning before we hear thunder

Calculating Lightning Distances 1. Watch the sky for a flash of lightning. 2. Count the number of seconds until you hear thunder. 3. Divide the number of seconds by 5 to calculate the distance the storm is away from your location in miles (or divide by 3 for kilometers). Practice: If you counted 20 seconds from when you saw the lightning until you heard thunder, how far away was the lightning strike? 4 miles Divide Number of Seconds by 3 for Distance in Km or 5 for Distance in Miles.

Lightning Strikes in the U.S. This map shows how often lightning strikes different parts of the lower 48 states. Central Florida has the most intense concentration of cloud-to-ground lightning because it has a lot of warm, humid air. The Pacific Northwest has almost no lightning.

Thunderstorm Safety Go INSIDE! Do NOT touch anything that can conduct electricity-especially metal objects and bodies of water Crouch down in a low area. Avoid trees!

Tornadoes A tornado is a rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down from a storm cloud to touch Earth’s surface

Tornado Formation Warm, moist air flows in at the bottom of a cumulonimbus cloud and moves upward A low pressure area forms inside the cloud Warm air rotates as it meets winds blowing in different directions at different altitudes Part of the cloud descends to the earth in a funnel

5 states that cross Tornado Alley are: Tornado Alley is an area of the United States that has a high frequency of tornadoes because cold, dry air moves south from Canada to meet warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico 5 states that cross Tornado Alley are: Texas Oklahoma Kansas Nebraska Iowa

The Fujita Tornado Damage Scale Tornadoes are ranked on the Fujita scale by the amount of damage they cause.

Tornado Safety A tornado watch is an announcement that tornadoes are possible in your area. Stay tuned to the radio or television news. A tornado warning is an announcement that a tornado has been sighted. Take shelter immediately! The safest place to be during a tornado is in a storm shelter or the basement of a well-built building.

Hurricanes A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that has winds of 119 km/h or higher Hurricanes form in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans In the western Pacific Ocean, hurricanes are called typhoons A hurricane begins over warm ocean water as a low-pressure area, or tropical disturbance. A hurricane draws its energy from the warm, humid air at the ocean’s surface As the air rises and forms clouds, more air is drawn into the system Inside the storm are bands of very high winds and heavy rains Winds spiral inward toward the area of lowest pressure at the center

Hurricane Names Hurricanes are given names to help us identify them and track them as they move across the ocean Men and women's names are used One name for each letter of the alphabet except Q, U, and Z World Meteorological Organization uses six lists in rotation The only time a new name is added is if a hurricane is very deadly or costly If that happens then the name is retired and a new name is chosen.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gustav Hanna Ike Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana Omar Paloma Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fred Grace Henri Ida Joaquin Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda Alex Bonnie Colin Danielle Earl Fiona Gaston Hermine Igor Julia Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole Otto Paula Richard Shary Tomas Virginie Walter Arlene Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irene Jose Katia Lee Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rina Sean Tammy Vince Whitney Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William Andrea Barry Chantal Dorian Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Ingrid Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy

Hurricane Formation

Hurricanes Hurricanes last longer than other storms, usually a week or more After a hurricane passes over land, it no longer has warm, moist air to draw energy from so it loses strength A storm surge is a “dome” of water that sweeps across the coast where a hurricane lands For safety during a hurricane, people are told to evacuate Evacuate means to leave the area immediately                                                              

Snowstorms All year round, most precipitation begins in clouds as snow In California, snowstorms generally occur only at high elevations (i.e. Mt. Shasta or Sierra Nevada)

The Danger of Snowstorms High winds during a snow storm can reduce visibility Strong winds can also cool a person’s body very rapidly Roads & doorways can be blocked

Quick Review Name the 4 main types of storms. thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, & snowstorms 2. How do you calculate lightning distance? Divide the number of seconds between lightning & thunder arrival by 5 to calculate the distance away in miles (or divide by 3 for kilometers). 3. Name 2 ways to be safe during a thunderstorm. Go inside, do not touch anything that can conduct electricity, crouch down in a low area, avoid trees. 4. What speed does a tropical storm need to reach to be considered a hurricane? 119 km/hr (73 miles/hour)