Storms

4.5

Storms• Storm- a violent disturbance in the

atmosphere.

• All year round, most precipitation begins in the clouds as snow. If the air is colder than 0°C all the way to the ground, then the precipitation falls as snow.

• Lightning- a sudden spark, or electrical discharge, as those charges jump between parts of a cloud.

Storms

• Thunderstorms form in large cumulonimbus clouds (thunderheads).

• During thunderstorms, avoid places where lightning may strike. Also avoid objects that can conduct electricity, such as metal objects & bodies of water.

Tornadoes most commonly develop in thick cumulonimbus clouds.

The safest place to be during a tornado is in a storm shelter or the basement of a well-built building.

HurricanesA hurricane begins over warm ocean water as a low-pressure area, or a tropical disturbance.

Hurricane Katrina

A storm surge is a “dome” of water that sweeps across the coast where the hurricane lands.

Storm Safety• If you are caught in

a snowstorm, find shelter from the wind and stay dry.

• If you hear a hurricane warning and are told to evacuate, leave the area immediately.