Name ________________________________ Date _________ Period _____
MESO
Winter Weather Module
Note / Study Sheet
Chapter 1: Background
1. Why is the Northern Hemisphere colder in the winter?
2. (CIRCLE ONE) The temperature must (Increase or Decrease) to get snow
instead of rain.
3. What is the daily record for snowfall for NC?
4. What is the most snow you’ve ever seen?
Take the quiz….How did you do?
Chapter 2: How snow forms
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Describe the formation of snow in a cloud.
What shape ice crystal forms at the coldest temperatures?
When it is colder would you expect more snowmelt or less?
Why do you see larger snowflakes when it is warmer?
Does snow form in the summer? Why don’t we see it?
Take the quiz….How did you do?
Chapter 3: Precipitation
10. Why must the temperature be below 0°C or 32°F all the way through the
atmosphere in order for snow to reach the ground?
11. Sleet starts as ________________ then as it falls becomes ____________and
when it gets closer to the ground it becomes _________________.
12. As a warm front passes over you what is the likely order of winter precipitation
types?
Take the quiz….How did you do?
Chapter 4: Mechanisms
13. Where around a low pressure system would you expect to find thunderstorms?
14. Where around a low pressure system would you expect to find snow?
15. Why do low pressure systems exist?
16. What is the jet stream?
Take the quiz….How did you do?
Chapter 5: Regional Events
17. Why does the western side of the Appalachian Mountains receive more snow
than the eastern side?
18. Draw a diagram of a high pressure center and cold air damming that might form
freezing rain / sleet in North Carolina.
Take the Quiz…. How did you do?
Chapter 6: Terminology
19. List two dangers from ice storms.
20. List two criteria for a categorizing a storm as a blizzard.
21. Are “Alberta Clippers” fast moving storms or slow moving storms?
22. Do they happen often?
23. How is a Nor’easter storm different from an Alberta Clipper?
24. What kind of damage do they do?
25. How is freezing fog like freezing rain? Where does it happen?
26. Why does NY require 7 inches of snow to issue a Winter Storm Warning while
most of NC only requires 3 inches?