Alberta clipper

An Alberta clipper is a fast moving area of low pressure that originates in Alberta, Canada. They bring gusty winds, cold air, and light snow.

Tornado alley

Tornado alley is an area that gets the most tornadoes in the United States. It is located in the central part of the country in a mostly north-south area from central Texas to Nebraska and Iowa.

Weather - trivia 7

1) What are the winds in a category 5 hurricane?

a) 157 mph or greater
b) 152 mph or greater

Check comments for the answer.

Freezing

Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius.

Squall line

A squall line is a long line of thunderstorms that forms along or ahead of cold fronts.

Snowpack

Snowpack is the annual accumulation of packed snow at higher elevations.

Sky cover

Sky cover is the amount of sky covered or concealed by clouds.

Sea breeze

A sea breeze is a daytime cooling breeze that blows from the sea to the land.

Wind speed

Wind speed is the measurement of the movement of air. It is given in miles per hour and knots.

Wind

Wind is the movement of air.

Whiteout

A whiteout is when visibility is reduced to near zero by snow, usually occuring in a blizzard.

Heat index

Heat index is the combination of air temperature and humidity. It gives a description of what the temperature actually feels like to us.

Erosion

Erosion is the movement of soil and rock from one area to another. Winds and water are causes of erosion.

Absolute zero

Absolute zero is the temperature at which all atomic motion should cease. It is -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit.

Waterspout

A waterspout is a tornado over water. They are usually much weaker than tornadoes over land.

Supercell

A supercell is a thunderstorm with a persistent rotating updraft. They produce large hail, damaging winds, and strong tornadoes.

Severe thunderstorm

A severe thunderstorm is a thunderstorm that has winds of 58 mph or more, hail of 1 inch or larger, or funnel clouds/tornadoes.

Severe thunderstorm warning

A severe thunderstorm warning means a severe thunderstorm has actually been spotted, either on the radar or by spotters in the specified warning area.

Severe thunderstorm watch

A severe thunderstorm watch means weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.

Tornado warning

A tornado warning means a tornado has actually been spotted on the radar or by spotters in the specified warning area.

Tornado watch

A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the specified watch area.

Slush

Slush is made up of ice or snow and liquid water. It can mix with dirt and give a brown appearance in streets. Slush occurs when warmer temperatures cause snow and ice to melt.

Black ice

Black ice is a thin, almost transparent ice coating found on road surfaces in cold weather.

Frost

Frost are ice crystals that form on exposed surfaces whose temperature is below freezing.

Dew point

The dew point is the temperature at which the air must be cooled in order for it to become saturated.

Dew

Dew is small water droplets that form on outside cooler surfaces at night. Dew can be found on grasses, leaves, and other surfaces.

Rain

Rain is liquid precipitation that falls from clouds.

Sleet

Sleet is small balls of ice that fall from clouds. They usually bounce when hitting the ground. Sleet is also referred to as ice pellets.

Tropical depression

A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with winds of 38 mph or less.

Tropical storm

A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with heavy rains and winds of 39 to 73 mph.

Major hurricane

A major hurricane is classified as category 3 or higher.

Hurricane

A hurricane is a severe tropical cyclone with heavy rains and winds of at least 74 mph.

Tropical storm warning

A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours.

Tropical storm watch

A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible within the specified area within 48 hours.

Hurricane warning

A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified area. The hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

Hurricane watch

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible within the specified area. The hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

Hurricane season

Hurricane season is when the majority of hurricanes occur.

Central Pacific hurricane season

The Central Pacific hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th.

Tornado

A tornado is a local and destructive windstorm on land that has a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground. Tornadoes are sometimes called twisters.

Storm surge

A storm surge is the rising of the sea as a result of a strong storm, especially hurricanes.

Eastern Pacific hurricane season

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season is from May 15th to November 30th.

Atlantic hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th.

Enhanced Fujita Scale

The Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to rank tornado wind speeds. Tornadoes are ranked from EF0 (lowest winds) to EF5 (highest winds).

Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale

The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale is used to rank hurricane wind speeds. Hurricanes are ranked from a category 1 (lowest winds) to category 5 (highest winds).

Category 5 hurricane

A category 5 hurricane has winds of 157 mph or greater.

Category 4 hurricane

A category 4 hurricane has winds of 130-156 mph.

Category 3 hurricane

A category 3 hurricane has winds of 111-129 mph.

Category 2 hurricane

A category 2 hurricane has winds of 96-110 mph.

Category 1 hurricane

A category 1 hurricane has winds of 74-95 mph.

EF5 tornado

An EF5 tornado has winds of over 200 mph.

EF4 tornado

An EF4 tornado has winds of 166-200 mph.

EF3 tornado

An EF3 tornado has winds of 136-165 mph.

EF2 tornado

An EF2 tornado has winds of 111-135 mph.

EF1 tornado

An EF1 tornado has winds of 86-110 mph.

EF0 tornado

An EF0 tornado has winds of 65-85 mph.