The Severe Weather Unit 2024

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What is lightning?

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Lightning is a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground, or within a cloud, resulting in a bright flash of light and often accompanied by thunder.

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What temperature can lightning heat the air to?

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Lightning can heat the air it travels through to approximately 30,000 degrees Celsius.

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How long does a hurricane typically last?

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A hurricane usually lasts from 1 to 2 weeks from its formation to its dissipation.

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What do meteorologists use to classify hurricanes?

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Meteorologists classify hurricanes primarily based on their wind speed.

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What type of storm produces the most powerful winds?

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A supercell is a type of storm that produces the most powerful winds, largest hail, and sometimes tornadoes.

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Where are flash floods least likely to occur?

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Flash floods are least likely to occur in a rural area at a high elevation.

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What is a supercell?

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A supercell is a highly organized thunderstorm characterized by a rotating updraft, capable of producing severe weather such as large hail, strong winds, and tornadoes.

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What is the Saffir-Simpson scale?

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The Saffir-Simpson scale is a classification system for hurricanes that categorizes them based on their sustained wind speeds.

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What is a flash flood?

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A flash flood is a sudden and intense flood that occurs within six hours of heavy rainfall or other events, such as dam breaks.

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What factors contribute to the formation of tornadoes?

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Tornadoes typically form from severe thunderstorms, particularly supercells, when warm, moist air meets cold, dry air, creating instability.