Common Weather Conditions
Thunderstorm:
There are 2 types of thunderstorms, ordinary and severe. Lighting, thunder, winds, rain and sometimes hail are usually produced. This is one of the most dangerous types of weather phenomenon.
- You can tell how far the thunderstorm is by the number of seconds between lightening and thunder. Then divide the number of seconds by 5 and you will get the distance between you and the storm in Miles. For example, if the thunder happens 15 seconds after the lightning. Since 15 ÷ 5 = 3, you are 3 miles away from the storm.
Precipitation:
When cloud particles become too heavy to remain in the atmosphere, the particles fall and become precipitation. Precipitation exists as different forms. Depending on the temperature, precipitation could be: Snow, Rain, Freezing Rain or Sleet.
Cyclone/Hurricane/Typhoon:
Cyclones are generally considered as large revolving storms with a low pressure center. These storms usually occur in tropical regions because in order to develop a cyclone, the surface of sea must have a temperature of at least 26ºC. In northern hemisphere, the wind of the storm circulates in a counter-clockwise motion and called Hurricane or Typhoon. In southern hemisphere, the storm circulates in a clockwise motion and called Cyclone.
- The satellite image of Hurricane Katrina that impacted New Orleans, United States in 2005. The hurricane costs the $96 to $125 billion financial loss and approximately 300,000 homes were destroyed. It was considered one of the most severe natural disasters in the history of USA.
- Although Hurricanes causes economical lose, death, transportation damage, famine and diseases, hurricanes have its advantages. For example, the large amount of precipitation brought by hurricanes is a solution to drought.