Natural Disasters
These fast‑spinning columns of air stretch from a thunderstorm cloud down to the ground and are rated on the 0 to 5 on a scale created by Tetsu "Ted" Fujita.
What is a tornado?
This large current that can blow over your head circumnavigates the globe, and determines weather patterns.
What is the jet stream?
Often having the warmest water, this body of water, connected to the Atlantic Ocean, is prime fuel for hurricanes.
What is the Gulf of Mexico?
On a weather map, high-pressure systems are marked with this letter.
What is H?
In 2011, an EF5 tornado devastated the families of over 600 people's lives who were killed. The tornado especially ripped apart the downtown area of this suburban city.
What is Joplin?
These mountains are still growing due to plate collision near the equator of the eastern hemisphere.
What are the Himalayas?
This ocean current runs along the Atlantic Coast, going northeast, and out into the open ocean.
What is the Gulf Stream?
Hurricanes are major blows to areas when they are violent. Sometimes, they can bring extreme this, sending tsunami-like waves crashing to the coastline.
What is storm surge?
Air pressure is caused by the weight of this surrounding us, pressing down on Earth's surface.
What is the atmosphere?
In 1888, this "great" blizzard buried the U.S. East Coast under snow and shut down New York City for days.
What is the Great Blizzard of 1888?
Forming over warm ocean water, these rotating storms bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.
What is a hurricane?
What the hail! Why are these types of storms going so high and sounding our tornado sirens?
What is a supercell?
This is the time of year, from June 1 to November 30, when hurricanes are most likely to form in the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the Atlantic hurricane season?
What is clockwise?
In 1999, Oklahoma had seemingly been on a tornado drought, as a violent tornado hadn't occured in six years. In May of that year, an EF5 tornado devastated the communities of Moore and this.
What is Bridge Creek?
Triggered by powerful undersea earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions, this series of large ocean waves can race across entire oceans and flood coastlines.
What is a tsunami?
This Spanish-named storm is classified as a late-time or, most likely, post-thunderstorm.
What is a derecho?
This scale is used to rate Atlantic hurricanes from Category 1 to Category 5 based on their sustained wind speeds.
What is the Saffir-Simpson scale?
When air moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure over a short distance, we experience stronger winds. The difference in pressure over a distance has this scientific name.
What is a pressure gradient?
In 1871, America's deadliest wildfire broke out in Wisconsin, with this rare weather phenomenon being the main killer of over 1,200 lives.
What is a firenado?
This powerful type of thunderstorm has a rotating updraft, can produce giant hail and strong tornadoes, and is often the source of the most violent twisters.
What is a supercell thunderstorm?
This type of weather event can happen when storms are forecast, but so are fires, creating what can be a rainless thunderstorm.
What are dry thunderstorms?
This large high‑pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean can steer hurricanes, often helping determine whether storms curve out to sea or head toward land.
What is the Bermuda High?
This instrument measures air pressure. A rising reading usually signals improving or fair weather, while a falling reading often warns that stormy weather is coming.
What is a barometer?
In 1812, a massive earthquake impacted areas along the central Mississippi, on this ancient fault line.
What is the New Madrid Fault Line?