Chapter 13 The Nature of Storms

In what stage of a thunderstorm would an equal amount of updrafts and downdrafts exist?

• cirrus stage
• cumulus stage
• mature stage
• dissipation stage

A tornado lasts 9 minutes, is 2 km wide and has wind speeds of 99 km/h.  What intensity level would it be classified?

• F0
• F1
• F2-F3
• F4

How fast must the winds of a tornado be traveling to be classified as a F4 tornado?

• 181-332 km/h
• 333-500 km/h
• 500-512 km/h
• 119-180 km/h

A tornado has lasted for 70 minutes and its path was 84 km wide.  What would its wind speed have to be in order for it to be categorized as an F4 tornado?

• 332 km/h
• 485 km/h
• 502 km/h
• 510 km/h

At which point would the strongest winds and densest clouds of the hurricane be located?

• the eye
• the eyewall
• the rainbands
• the outer edge

What is characteristic of the eye of the hurricane?

• the strongest winds and densest clouds
• thunderstorms
• light clouds and precipitation
• calm weather and blue sky

A hurricane has been classified as a category 3 hurricane.  Which of the following is NOT true?

• the hurricane can not get any stronger
• the hurricane has winds of 200 km/h
• the hurricane can not get any weaker
• the hurricane has sea level changes of 4.0 m

A hurricane hits land with wind speeds of 225 km/h and sea level changes of 5.5 m.  What damage classification would it be labeled as according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale?

• catastrophic
• moderate
• extensive
• extreme

A(n) ____ thunderstorm forms because of unequal heating of Earth’s surface within one air mass.

• frontal mass
• cold front
• air mass
• air pressure

Very severe thunderstorms can form when a ____ has a large continuous supply of warm air to lift and condense.

• cold front
• warm air mass
• warm front
• tornado