What is it?
A brief heavy storm that consist of rain, strong winds, lightning, and thunder
How does it form?
Warm air rises – reaches its dew point (condenses)
Water vapor condensed = cumulus clouds
Warm air continues to rise = cumulonimbus clouds
Why does it form?
2 atmospheric conditions: warm moist air near
Earth’s surface and an unstable atmosphere(surrounding air is colder)
Where does it form?
Along cold fronts
What is it?
An electric discharge that occurs between a positively and negatively charged area
How does it form?
Friction between two things
Why does it form?
There is a positive and a negatively charged areas
Where does it form?
*Between two clouds,
*the Earth’s surface and a cloud,
*or two parts of the same cloud
What is it?
Small spinning column of air that has high wind speeds, is visible as a funnel-shaped cloud and touches the ground
How does it form?
Wind moves in 2 directions, Air in the middle begins to spin, Column turns vertical, moves to bottom of cloud, touches the ground
Why does it form?
Cold Canadian air meets warm moist tropical air
Funnel cloud pokes through the bottom of cumulonimbus cloud and makes contact with the ground
Where does it form?
1% of thunderstorms in Cumulonimbus clouds form tornadoes
75% occur in US
What is it?
Large, rotating tropical weather system w/ wind speeds of 120 km/h (74 mph)
How does it form?
Group of thunderstorms moving over tropical waters
Wind traveling in 2 different directions meet = storm spins
Where does it form? Grows over warm ocean water
(80 degrees or warmer)
Why does it form?
Water condenses over warm ocean water
Warm air rises!
Where does it form?
Most form between 5° - 20° N and S latitude
(because the Coriolis Effect is too weak below 5 degrees latitude); warm tropical oceans

Thunderstorm Damage
Can produce high winds, hail, flash floods, and tornadoes
Hailstorms damage crops, dent cars, break windows
Floods – property damage - death
Safety
*Stay indoors
Tornado Damage
Wide path of destruction
Uproot trees, destroy buildings
Pick up heavy objects: mobile homes, cars
Safety
*Watches: tornado may happen
*Warning: tornado has been spotted
*Find shelter: basement/cellar, windowless room/closet/hallway
Lightning Damage
Starts 1000s of forest fires each year
Killing, injuring 100s people
Safety
*stay indoors
*don’t be the tallest thing in the area
*stay away from water
Hurricane Damage
Wind knock down trees, telephone poles
Damage/destroy buildings/homes
Storm surge/wall of water = flooding
Flooding damages property & lives
Safety
*Evacuate area
*Have a disaster kit
*Board up windows
*Flooding: Get to high ground