1. What Happens When Good Weather Goes Bad?

2. Storms  A Storm is a violent disturbance in the atmosphere  Cause sudden changes in air pressure  Cause rapid air movements

3. Thunderstorms  Formation Form within large cumulonimbus clouds Form within large cumulonimbus clouds Usually form when warm air is forced upward at a cold front Usually form when warm air is forced upward at a cold front Produce strong upward and downward winds inside clouds Produce strong upward and downward winds inside clouds

4. Thunderstorms  Lightning Positive and negative electrical charges build up in a storm Positive and negative electrical charges build up in a storm Lightning is a sudden energy discharge as the charges jump between parts of a cloud Lightning is a sudden energy discharge as the charges jump between parts of a cloud  Thunder Lightning heats up air to almost 30,000 degrees C Lightning heats up air to almost 30,000 degrees C The air expands explosively – thunder is the sound of the explosion The air expands explosively – thunder is the sound of the explosion

5. Tornadoes  Tornado – a rapidly whirling funnel shaped cloud that reaches down from a storm cloud to touch the earth’s surface  Waterspout – a tornado that touches down on the water  Formation Develop in low, heavy cumulonimbus clouds Develop in low, heavy cumulonimbus clouds Most likely to occur in spring and early summer Most likely to occur in spring and early summer

6. Hurricanes  Hurricane – a tropical storm with winds of 74 mph or higher – measured on the Saffir- Simpson Scale Category 1 – winds 74-95 mph – Gaston of 2004 Category 1 – winds 74-95 mph – Gaston of 2004 Category 2 – winds 96-110 mph – Frances 0f 2004 Category 2 – winds 96-110 mph – Frances 0f 2004 Category 3 – winds 111-130 mph – Jeanne ’04, Wilma ’05 Category 3 – winds 111-130 mph – Jeanne ’04, Wilma ’05 Category 4 – winds 131-155 mph – Charley ’04 Category 4 – winds 131-155 mph – Charley ’04 Category 5 – winds 156 + mph – Andrew 1992 Category 5 – winds 156 + mph – Andrew 1992  Are also called Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones

7. Hurricanes  Formation Hurricanes typically form over warm water a a low-pressure area or tropical disturbance Hurricanes typically form over warm water a a low-pressure area or tropical disturbance Hurricanes get their energy from the warm, humid air at the ocean’s surface Hurricanes get their energy from the warm, humid air at the ocean’s surface  The Eye Calm area at the center of the storm. The better developed the eye, the stronger the storm Calm area at the center of the storm. The better developed the eye, the stronger the storm After the eye passes over, the wind blows from the opposite direction After the eye passes over, the wind blows from the opposite direction

8. Hurricane Preparations  In areas where hurricanes hit frequently, like Florida, hurricane shutters are required by building code  Hurricane shutters should be put up when a hurricane watch is issued  Hurricane supplies should be stocked up before the season – bottled water, canned foods, medications, flashlights, batteries, weather radio, etc.

10. Historic Catastrophic Storms  Only 3 Category 5 storms have ever hit the US  Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 – Florida Keys  Hurricane Camille of 1969 – Pass Christian in Mississippi Gulf Coast  Hurricane Andrew of 1992 – Florida City and Miami-Dade

11. Damage from Andrew

12. Recent Catastrophic Storms  Katrina  Category 5 storm at its strongest  Category 3 storm when it made landfall

16. Hurricane Wilma  Strongest storm on record for Atlantic tropical cyclone with a minimum pressure of 882 mb  Category 5 storm at that time  Category 3 storm when it made landfall in Florida  Landfall made on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and predicted to lose strength as it went across Florida – it didn’t!