Name: __________________
Date: ______________
Earth Science
Mr. Barry
Doc. # _______
Class Period _____
Thunderstorms and Severe Weather
Read-Along Notes
Read sections 13.1 and 13.2 and answer the following questions.
How Thunderstorms Form
1. What three conditions must exist for a thunderstorm to form?
2. What limits the growth of thunderstorms?
3. Look at Figure 13-1. What state has the most thunderstorms annually?
Air-Mass Thunderstorms
4. Define air-mass thunderstorm:
5. When is an air mass thunderstorm most likely? Why?
6. Define sea-breeze thunderstorm:
7. Look at Figure 13-2. Explain how a sea-breeze thunderstorm forms. Draw a picture
that shows the movement of the air.
Frontal Thunderstorms
8. Define frontal thunderstorms:
9. How can a frontal thunderstorm form along a cold front?
Name: __________________
Date: ______________
Earth Science
Mr. Barry
Doc. # _______
Class Period _____
10. How can a frontal thunderstorm form along a warm front?
Stages of Development
11. What are the names of the three stages of thunderstorm development?
12. Describe the first stage of formation of a thunderstorm. Draw a picture of the stage
(like the one in Figure 13-3).
13. Describe the second stage of formation of a thunderstorm. Draw a picture of the
stage (like the one in Figure 13-3).
14. Describe the third stage of formation of a thunderstorm. Draw a picture of the stage
(like the one in Figure 13-3).
Name: __________________
Date: ______________
Earth Science
Mr. Barry
Doc. # _______
Class Period _____
Severe Thunderstorms
15. What factors can cause some storms to be more severe than others?
16. Define supercell:
17. How long can supercell storms last? What percent of thunderstorms are considered
severe?
Lightning
18. How does a lightning bolt form?
19. How hot is a lightning bolt?
20. What is thunder?
21. Read Table 13-1. What do you think is the most important thing to do when
thunderstorms approach?
22. What should you do if caught outdoors and there is lightning?
The Fury of the Wind
23. Define downburst:
24. What is the difference between a macroburst and a microburst?
Hail
25. What is hail?
26. What two characteristics are necessary for hail to form?
Name: __________________
Date: ______________
Earth Science
Mr. Barry
Doc. # _______
Class Period _____
Floods
27. How are floods related to storms?
Tornadoes
28. Define tornado:
29. Why is the air in a tornado visible?
30. What can cause a tornado to form? Describe the steps (Figure 13-8).
31. Define Fujita tornado intensity scale:
32. Use Table 13-2 to fill in the following chart.
Type of
Fujita Scale
Percentage
Path
Tornado
of
Tornadoes
Wind Speed
Duration
F0 and F1
F2 and F3
F4 and F5
33. When and where do most tornadoes form in the US?
34. Look at Table 13-3. Describe what you would do to protect yourself if a tornado
where to come near your house.