Tornadoes
Do the most powerful tornadoes occur in the United States?
YES!
Can lightning hit you even though there isn't a thunderstorm overhead?
Yes...Lightning can strike up to 5 miles away from the center of a storm.
Is it safe to drive during a blizzard?
NO
What type of clouds cause thunderstorms?
The type of cloud which is usually responsible for thunderstorms is ‘cumulonimbus’ (a Latin word which translates to ‘rain heaps’).
Where does a hurricane begin?
over warm ocean water as a low pressure area, or tropical disturbance
Can a strong tornado lift a house off the ground and pull it around the block?
YES!
Is standing under a tree during a storm safe?
NO! It is dangerous to be under a tree during a lightning storm.
What is the difference between a blizzard watch and a blizzard warning?
Blizzard watches are in effect when the conditions are right for a blizzard to occur. A blizzard warning means that a blizzard is occurring.
What state has the most thunderstorms?
Flordia
What is a storm surge?
a dome of water that sweeps across the coast where the hurricane lands
How fast can winds travel in a tornado?
up to 500 kilometers per hour
What is the temperature of the air where a lightning strike occurs? Take a guess.
50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. 5x hotter than the sun
What 3 conditions have to be present for a storm to be a blizzard?
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm usually accompanied by cold temps, high wind speeds, and long period of time
Does thunder happen before or after lightning?
You hear thunder after a bolt of lightning
What is a hurricane?
Tropical cyclone that has winds of 119 kilometers per hour or higher
What is the scale that scientists use to measure the strength of a tornado?
Fujita Scale
What is lightning?
sudden spark or electrical discharge between clouds, a cloud and the ground or parts of a cloud
What conditions have to be present for snow to fall?
If the air is colder than 0C or 32F all the way to the ground, precipitation will fall as snow
What is a kind of damage that can occur after a thunderstorm?
Flood, fire, broken trees/buildings
What should you do if a hurricane is going to hit your area?
evacuate
Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
What natural disaster on earth can also cause lightning without a thunderstorm present?
Volcano eruption
What is the record for the most snowfall on earth in 24 hrs?
The greatest daily snow fall was 62 inches in Thompson Pass, Alaska.
What is the safest thing to do in a thunderstorm?
Stay Inside!
How long do hurricanes last?
usually a week or more