What is a rain shadow?
When the moisture in the air is squeezed out by orographic precipitation, there’s not much left for the other side of the mountains. The dry side of the mountain experiences a rain shadow effect because they are in the shadow of the rain.
What is a thunderstorm?
Thunderstorms are localized atmospheric phenomena that produce heavy rain, thunder and lightning, and sometimes hail. They are formed in cumulonimbus clouds (clouds that are big and bulbous) that rise many miles into the sky. Most of the southeastern United States has over forty days of thunderstorm activity each year, and there are about 100,000 thunderstorms across the country annually. Thunderstorms are different from typical rainstorms because of their lightning, thunder, and occasional hail.
What are monsoons?
Occurring in southern Asia, monsoons are winds that flow from the ocean to the continent during the summer and from the continent to the ocean in the winter. The winds come from the southwest from April to October and from the northeast (the opposite direction) from October to April. The summer monsoons bring a great deal of moisture to the land. They cause deadly floods in low-lying river valleys, but they also provide the water southern Asia relies upon for agriculture.
What is the origin of the word “monsoon”?
The word “monsoon” comes from several source languages, including from the Portuguese word moncau, the Arabic word mawsim, and the early Dutch word monsun.
What are dust devils?
These columns of brown, dust-filled air, which can rise dozens of feet, are not as evil as the name suggests. They are caused by warm air rising on dry, clear days. Winds associated with dust devils can reach up to 60 miles (96.5 km) per hour and cause some damage, but they are not as destructive as tornadoes and usually die out pretty quickly.
What causes the wind to blow?
The Earth’s atmospheric pressure varies at different places and times. Wind is simply caused by the movement of air from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. The greater the difference in pressure, the faster the wind blows. Some detailed weather maps show wind speed along with isobars (areas of equal air pressure) indicating the level of air pressure.
In which direction does the west wind blow?
It blows from the west to the east. Wind direction is always named after the direction from where it originates.
What is the jet stream?
The jet stream is a band of swiftly moving air located high in the atmosphere, meandering across the troposphere and stratosphere, up to 30 miles high (48 km). The jet stream affects the movement of storms and air masses closer to the ground.
Dust devils are like very weak tornadoes that never cause any damage.
What are the westerlies?
These westerly winds flow at mid-latitudes (30 to 60 degrees north and south of the equator) from west to east around the Earth. The high-altitude winds known as the jet stream are also westerlies.
What is katabatic wind?
Katabatic wind is high-density air that moves from a higher elevation down a slope because of the force of gravity. These winds are sometimes known as “fall winds.”
What is the windiest place on Earth?
Because of katabatic winds, Antarctica frequently wins the top honors for being the windiest place on Earth. Winds near Commonwealth Bay, which was discovered in 1912, are frequently recorded to be 150 miles per hour (240 km per hour), with an average wind speed over the course of a year of 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour).
What is a willy-willy?
Willy-willy is a word that traces its roots to indigenous Australian language. It is a term used to describe a dust devil, when air is heated up on the ground, drawing forcefully nearby cooler air, causing the air to spiral upward.
Is Chicago really the “Windy City”?
Chicago is not the windiest big city in the lower 48 states of the United States. Chicago’s average wind speed of 10.3 miles (16.58 km) per hour is beat by Boston (12.3 mph/19.79 kph), Dallas (10.7 mph/17.22 kph), Oklahoma City (12.2 mph/19.63 kph), Buffalo (11.8 mph/18.99 kph), and Milwaukee (11.5 mph/18.51 kph).
What is the origin of the name “Windy City”?
Although Chicago is not really that windy compared with other American cities, the name has been used since the nineteenth century. It refers not necessarily to the weather but to the observations by many when describing Chicago politicians, metaphorically, as “talkative,” “boastful,” and “self-promoting.”
What world weather record does the United States hold?
The United States claims the world’s highest surface wind, 318 miles per hour (511.77 km per hour), during a tornado in Oklahoma in 2009.
What is the difference between a watch and a warning?
The U.S. National Weather Service issues watches and warnings for a variety of hazards when they may be imminent. A watch (such as a tornado watch or a flood watch) means that such a hazardous event is likely to occur or is predicted to occur. A warning is more serious. It means that a hazard is already occurring or is imminent. Warnings are usually broadcast on television and radio stations via the Emergency Alert System (formerly known as the Emergency Broadcast System).
How should we prepare for disaster?
Disasters can and do happen everywhere. You should prepare for disaster by having a disaster supply kit with supplies for you and everyone in your family available at home and work, as well as a minikit in your automobile. It should include food, water, first-aid equipment, sturdy shoes, an AM/FM radio (with batteries kept outside of the radio), a flashlight (with batteries kept outside of the flashlight), vital medication (especially prescription medication), blankets, cash (if the power and computers are down, credit and ATM cards won’t work), games and toys for children, and any other essentials. Contact your local chapter of the Red Cross for more information about disaster preparedness.
Should we use candles after a disaster or power outage?
Many deaths and a great deal of property damage have been caused by fires resulting from people using candles following a disaster. People leave candles burning as a source of light, but these can fall over and start fires. It is strongly advised that people not use candles when the power goes out. There are many flashlights and battery-operated lanterns that are available commercially and should be part of your disaster supply kit. Most cell phones have flashlights as part of the rear-camera light, too.
