Storms
Section 17.2
Storms
• A violent disturbance in the atmosphere
• Involve sudden changes in air pressure,
which causes rapid air movements
• Include
- Thunderstorms
- Tornadoes
- Hurricanes
- Winter storms
Thunderstorms
• A small storm often accompanied by
heavy precipitation and frequent thunder
and lightning
• Form in large cumulonimbus clouds
(thunderheads)
• Can have hail
• Can have strong
updrafts and
downdrafts
Thunderstorms
• Lightning
- positive and negative charges build up in
storm clouds
- an electrical discharge occurs when the
charges jump from:
one part of a cloud to another
cloud to cloud
cloud to ground
Thunderstorms
Thunder
• Lightning rapidly heats air
• The rapidly heated air expands suddenly
and explosively causing a thunder sound
Thunderstorm
Damage
• Flooding/ flash floods
• Fires
• Unconsciousness, burns, death
Safety
• Stay indoors
• Avoid electrical conductors
• Stay low outdoors
• Get out of water
Tornadoes
• A rapidly whirling funnel shaped cloud that
reaches Earth’s surface
• Occurs where warm humid air rises rapidly
and begins to rotate as it meets other
winds
Tornadoes
Damage
• From strong wind and flying debris
• Ranked on a Fujita scale from 0-5
F0 – light F5 – extreme damage
Safety
• Move to a shelter, basement, or middle of
ground floor
• Stay away from windows
Safety video
• Lie in a ditch outdoors
video
Hurricanes
• Tropical cyclones (low pressure system)
with winds over 119 km/hr (74 mph)
• Draw their energy from warm, humid air
over water
Hurricanes
Damage
• High waves and flooding
• Wind damage
• Storm surge – dome of ocean water due to
low pressure
Safety
• Evacuate
Hurricane Names
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
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
Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gonzalo
Hanna
Isaias
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paulette
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
Hurricane Names
2014
Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gonzalo
Hanna
Isaias
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paulette
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred
2015
Ana
Bill
Claudette
Danny
Erika
Fred
Grace
Henri
Ida
Joaquin
Kate
Larry
Mindy
Nicholas
Odette
Peter
Rose
Sam
Teresa
Victor
Wanda
2016
Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Ian
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tobias
Virginie
Walter
2017
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irma
Jose
Katia
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney
2018
Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debbie
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Michael
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sara
Tony
Valerie
William
2019
Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dorian
Erin
Fernand
Gabrielle
Humberto
Imelda
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Nestor
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy
Winter Storms
• Heavy snow and extreme cold
Lake-Effect snow – wind picks up moisture
from the warmer Great Lakes. Moisture
then precipitates as it is carried over the
colder land
Winter Storms
Damage
• Blocked roads
• Crop damage
• Bursts water pipes
Safety
• Find shelter from wind
• Cover exposed body parts
• Run car engine if exhaust is clear