Type of storm
Hurricane
Definition
Tropical storm that
with strong winds
(119 km/hr)
_________________
Biggest and most
destructive storm.
_________________
Rated in categories of
1-5.
_________________
Given human names.
_________________
“Hurricane Hunters”
fly through the storm
Where does it typically
form, and why?
1. Pacific Ocean
Typhoon
2. Indian Ocean
Cyclone
3. Atlantic Ocean
Hurricane
What causes it?
1. Begins over warm
water above 80° F as
a low pressure area
or tropical
disturbance.
2. Typically strikes
the U.S. from
Atlantic Ocean north
of the equator in
August, September,
or October.
3. Winds rotate
counter clockwise in
northern
hemisphere and
clockwise in
southern
hemisphere.
What kind of
damage can it do?
1. Brings high waves
and severe flooding
as well as wind
damage when it
comes onto land.
2. Can uproot trees,
smash buildings, &
destroy power lines.
3. Can flood roads.
4. A storm surge, a
“dome” of water that
sweeps across the
coast where the
hurricane lands, can
cause great damage.
Famous Examples
1. Hurricane Andrew
2. Hurricane Mitch
3. Hurricane Katrina
4. Hurricane Sandy
Tornado
Rapidly whirling
funnel shaped cloud
that reaches down
from a storm cloud to
touch Earth’s surface.
_________________
Rated on the Fujita
Scale from (F)0-(F)5
If it forms over a lake or
ocean it is called a
waterspout.
__________________
Develop in low heavy
cumulonimbus clouds
(clouds that bring
thunderstorms).
__________________
Often occur in spring &
early summer.
__________________
“Tornado Alley”
1. When a warm,
humid air mass
moves north and
meets a cold dry air
mass. The cold air
moves under the
warm air, which
rises.
1. Causes very
precise/specific
damage (can level
houses on one street
& leave neighboring
houses standing).
2. Damage comes
from strong winds &
flying debris.
3. Can move large
objects for many
miles.
1. More tornadoes happen in the
US than anywhere else-“Tornado
Alley”-north-central Texas across
central Oklahoma, Kansas, and
Nebraska.
__________________________
Tri- State Tornado of 1925.
Super Outbreak of 148 tornados
in 1974
Oklahoma City in 1999
Greenburg, Kansas in 2007
Type of storm
Thunderstorm
Drought
Definition
Where does it typically
form, and why?
1. Form within large
cumulonimbus clouds or
thunderheads.
1. Heavy rain storms
accompanied by
thunder & lightning.
- Lightning: sudden
spark of energy
between clouds,
within clouds, or
cloud to ground.
- Thunder: when
lightning heats the air
it expands suddenly &
explosively.
1. Long periods of low 1. Can occur almost
precipitation.
anywhere on Earth.
What causes it?
1. Warm air is forced
upward at a cold
front.
1. Jet stream pattern
changes and causes
unusual weather of
less (or more)
precipitation.
What kind of
damage can it do?
1. Lightning can
shatter tree tops &
start forest fires.
2. Can cause serious
burns, heart failure,
& unconsciousness in
people.
1. Can cause entire
crops to fail.
2. In less developed
counties it can cause
widespread hunger
or famine.
Famous Examples etc.
We do not know famous
examples of thunderstorms
because they are so common,
however, they can often produce
more severe storms such as
tornadoes.
__________________________
Thunderstorms can develop into
Super cells, which are a storm
that produces severe weather,
sometimes tornadoes.
1. Scientists try to produce rain
during droughts w/ cloud
seeding—tiny drops of carbon
dioxide & silver nitrate.
__________________________
1987-1989 Drought that covered
36% of US.
__________________________
The Dust Bowl Drought 19331940