STORMSSTORMS

ThunderstormsThunderstorms☼a disturbance in the earth’s a disturbance in the earth’s

atmosphere that involves lightning atmosphere that involves lightning and thunder; gusty winds, heavy and thunder; gusty winds, heavy rain, and hail may also be presentrain, and hail may also be present

☼form in cumulonimbus cloudsform in cumulonimbus clouds☼occur when unequal heating of occur when unequal heating of

earth’s surface causes warm, humid earth’s surface causes warm, humid air to rise or when warm and cold air air to rise or when warm and cold air collidecollide

☼can spawn funnel shaped vortexescan spawn funnel shaped vortexes

TornadoesTornadoes☼occur when a funnel cloud occur when a funnel cloud

touches the groundtouches the ground☼a rotating column of air (vortex) a rotating column of air (vortex)

of intense low pressureof intense low pressure☼the high pressure air outside of the high pressure air outside of

vortex rushes into the funnel vortex rushes into the funnel resulting in damage from violent resulting in damage from violent winds and flying debriswinds and flying debris

HurricanesHurricanes::☼ A massive rotating storm that starts over A massive rotating storm that starts over

tropical oceanstropical oceans☼ has sustained winds of more than 119 kmhhas sustained winds of more than 119 kmh☼ can affect an area 550 km in diametercan affect an area 550 km in diameter☼ lasts for days/weekslasts for days/weeks☼ called a typhoon or cyclone depending on called a typhoon or cyclone depending on

where it is locatedwhere it is located☼ center is called the “eye” where there is low center is called the “eye” where there is low

winds, no rain, low pressure and a bright skywinds, no rain, low pressure and a bright sky☼ around “eye” is eye wall with spiraling clouds, around “eye” is eye wall with spiraling clouds,

heavy rain and strong windsheavy rain and strong winds☼ can make ocean waves 10 meters highcan make ocean waves 10 meters high