Severe Weather Vocabulary Flashcard

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Saffir-Simpson scale

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Classifies hurricanes according to wind speed on a scale ranging from Category 1 to Category 5.

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Tropical cyclone

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A large, low-pressure, rotating tropical storm that gets its energy from the evaporation of warm ocean water and the release of heat.

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Supercell

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An extremely powerful, self-sustaining thunderstorm characterized by intense, rotating updrafts.

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Storm Surge

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Occurs when powerful, hurricane-force winds drive a mound of ocean water toward shore, causing it to wash over the land and often resulting in enormous damage.

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Return stroke

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A branched channel of positively charged particles.

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Tornado

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A rapidly rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud.

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Downburst

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A strong downdraft that produces damaging winds at the surface, often associated with thunderstorms.

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Drought

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A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.

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Heat wave

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A prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity.

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Eyewall

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The area surrounding the eye of a hurricane, characterized by the most intense winds and rainfall.