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Worksheets

Severe Storms

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 36mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is the major source of energy fueling a hurricane?
a)
low pressure system
b)
Heat Energy evaporating from the ocean surface
2.
By what two factors is hurricane strength measured?
a)
wind speed and barometric pressure
b)
damage of storm surge and debris field
3.
Large wall or dome of water that rushes into the coastline as a result of a hurricane making landfall
a)
storm surge
b)
typhoon
4.

A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from the base of a thunderstorm.

a)

Funnel Cloud

b)

Tornado

c)

Condensation Funnel

d)

Thunderstorm

5.

A scale of wind damage intensity in which wind speeds are inferred from an analysis of wind damage.

a)

Saffir-Simpson scale

b)

Fujita scale

c)

Wind speed scale

d)

Damage indicator scale

6.
In order for thunderstorms to form, air must be __________.
a)
Stable
b)
Wet
c)
Unstable
d)
Cold
7.

A _____________ is a large, rotating low-pressure system that forms over the warm waters of oceans near the equator.

a)

tornado

b)

hurricane

c)

thunderstorm

d)

flooding

8.

Most hurricanes

a)

cannot be seen from space.

b)

cross large amounts of land.

c)

become dangerous category 5 storms.

d)

lose their power when they move into cooler waters or moves over land.

9.

In order for a hurricane to form, the water must be ________.

a)

Cool

b)

Warm

c)

Cold

d)

temperate

10.

How can people stay safe during a tornado?

a)

Drop, cover, and hold on.

b)

Get in your car and drive to the nearest school.

c)

Go outside and stand under a tree.

d)

Go into a basement or sturdy building away from windows and cover yourself with a blanket or mattress.

11.

Thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes form at __________ pressure systems, where you have warm (typically moist/humid) air quickly rising.

a)

low

b)

high

12.

Long periods of rain can cause a...

a)

thunderstorm.

b)

hurricane.

c)

drought.

d)

flood.

13.
What is the center of hurricane called?  
a)
Nose
b)
Eye
c)
Super Center
d)
Cell
14.
What happens during the mature stage of a thunderstorm?
a)
The storm begins to break up
b)
The storm creates lightning thunder and heavy rain
c)
The cool air rises and stratus clouds build
d)
The warm air rises and cumulus clouds build
15.
Thunderstorm clouds are called - 
a)
Cirrus
b)
Stratus
c)
Cumulus
d)
Cumulonimbus
16.

Lightning heats the air so much that the air expands. The sound created by the sudden expansion and contraction is called _______________________.

a)

expansion

b)

thunder

c)

radar

d)

lightning

17.

Cold front and warm front meet over land. Cold air pushes warm air up quickly in a rotating motion. This can create a...

a)

tornado.

b)

hurricane.

c)

winter storm.

d)

drought.

18.

Hurricanes usually form over _____________ water.

a)

cold

b)

warm

c)

freezing

d)

no

19.

Which type of air mass and water temperature would cause a strong hurricane?

a)

continental polar

b)

maritime polar

c)

maritime tropical

d)

continental tropical

20.
Which process causes water to move from the ocean to the atmosphere during the formation of a hurricane?
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation 
c)
precipitation 
d)
runoff
21.

Which of these describes the eye of a hurricane?

a)

the part of the hurricane when the temperatures are lowest

b)

the outer edge of the hurricane

c)

the calm center where the winds are light and the sky is clear

d)

the violent center of the hurricane where the winds are the highest

22.

Where do most tornadoes occur?

a)

in the West, in "Tornado Valley"

b)

in the Mid-West, in "Tornado Alley"

c)

in the East coast

d)

in the Northwest

23.

In which ocean would you not expect to experience a TROPICAL cyclone?

a)

North Atlantic

b)

West Pacific

c)

Arctic

d)

Indian

24.

Electricity caused by the rapid rush of air in a cumulonimbus cloud is

a)

thunder.

b)

friction.

c)

lightning.

d)

hail.

25.

Powerful downdrafts that affect an area of less than 3 km are

a)

updrafts.

b)

microbursts.

c)

supercells.

d)

macrobursts.

26.

Flooding often occurs if rain falls faster than

a)

snow.

b)

rates of condensation.

c)

clouds can form.

d)

the ground can absorb it.

27.

Precipitation in the form of balls or lumps of ice is

a)

drizzle.

b)

snow.

c)

hail.

d)

sleet.

28.

This is the upward movement of air in a thunderstorm, which gives the storm fuel (energy).

a)

convection

b)

low pressure system

c)

updraft

d)

downdraft

29.

This is the downward movement of air in a thunderstorm, this releases energy from the storm.

a)

convection

b)

high pressure system

c)

updraft

d)

downdraft

30.

This stage of thunderstorm development is the most dangerous where strong updrafts and downdrafts coexist.

a)

Developing cumulus stage

b)

Mature stage

c)

Dissipating stage

d)

Back stage

31.

In this stage of thunderstorm formation, the updraft is cut off by the downdraft, and the storm no longer has the fuel needed to sustain itself.

a)

Towering cumulus stage

b)

Mature cumulus stage

c)

Dissipating stage

d)

Front stage

32.

A scale that tells how severe a tornado is based on wind speed and damage being caused.

a)

Fujita Scale

b)

Doppler Radar

33.

Most tornadoes occur during the months of May, June, July, and August in the late afternoon and evenings.

a)

True

b)

False

34.

There is only one scale that currently exists for rating tornadoes and that’s the Fujita Scale (F-Scale).

a)

True

b)

False

35.

When is the hurricane season?

a)

June 1- November 30

b)

May 15- November 30

c)

None of the above

d)

All of the above

36.

How is a hurricane measured?

a)

Saffir-Simpson scale

b)

EF scale

c)

Richter Scale

d)

Pulse

37.

What is the most powerful part of a hurricane?

a)

Eye

b)

Eye Wall

c)

Storm surge

d)

Edge

38.
Hurricanes develop in ________ regions.
a)
Arctic
b)
Tropical
c)
Arid
d)
None of the above
39.
2. Which are bigger, hurricanes or tornadoes?
a)
Tornadoes
b)
Hurricanes
40.
What is the name of a scientist who studies weather?
a)
biologist
b)
geologist
c)
optometrist
d)
meterorologist