Severe Weather

What is a funnel cloud?

• the cloud that forms before a storm turns into a tornado

• another name for a tornado

• a rotating updraft

• when warm air rises through cold air

Why do most tornadoes occur in the afternoon?

• the sun has had more time to heat the ground/atmosphere & produce thunderstorms

• the winds need a few hours to build up before they can become a tornado

• there aren't any clouds in the morning to form tornadoes

• the ground has had time to cool off and produce ideal conditions for tornadoes

Which direction do hurricanes turn in the Northern Hemisphere?

• clockwise

• counterclockwise

Which factor is most critical in determining the path of a hurricane?

• Trade winds

• Ocean temperature

• Jet stream patterns

• Humidity levels

Which part of a hurricane is typically calm and clear?

• Eye

• Eye wall

• Outer rainbands

• Feeder bands

How does the Fujita scale measure a tornado's intensity?

• by analyzing the damage the tornado has done & matching that to wind speeds

• by only looking at the wind speed

• by looking at the number of buildings the tornado destroys

• by analyzing the wind speeds and width of the tornado

What is a tornado?

• a violently rotating column of air

• a rotating tropical storm

• a winter storm characterized by high winds and snow

• a storm that occurs in cumulonimbus clouds

What are the 3 ingredients necessary for a thunderstorm?

• moisture, instability, & a lifting mechanism

• dry air, high pressure, & a lifting mechanism

• moisture, instability, & cool air

• moist cool air, high pressure, and differential heating

What is the mature cumulus stage of a thunderstorm?

• Strong updrafts & downdrafts coexist

• Air within the cloud is dominated by updraft

• The downdraft cuts off the updraft and the storm no longer has a supply of warm moist air

• When cloud height reaches up to 20,000 feet

Do the center of hurricanes have high or low pressure?

• high

• low