Hail

Hail

Hail is a form of weather. Hail is a type of precipitation, or water in the atmosphere. Hail is formed when drops of water freeze together in the cold upper regions of thunderstorm clouds. These chunks of ice are called hailstones. Most hailstones measure between 5 millimeters and 15 centimeters in diameter, and can be round or jagged.

Hailstones are not frozen raindrops. Frozen rain falls as water and freezes as it nears the ground. Hail actually falls as a solid. 

Hailstones are formed by layers of water attaching and freezing in a large cloud. A frozen droplet begins to fall from a cloud during a storm, but is pushed back up into the cloud by a strong updraft of wind. When the hailstone is lifted, it hits liquid water droplets. Those droplets then freeze to the hailstone, adding another layer to it. The hailstone eventually falls to Earth when it becomes too heavy to remain in the cloud, or when the updraft stops or slows down.

As of May, 15 2015 19 Hail storms have hit 6 states which include Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico.

Lightning Strikes

When Lightning Strikes!

 

 

Some fun facts about lightning

 

• A lightning bolt is about 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lightning flashes about 40 times per second
• Lightning kills about 2,000 people a year
• The study of lightning is called fulminology
• Astraphobia is the fear of lightning and thunder
• Most lightning occurs over land with about 70% in the Tropics

Links for some lightning facts!

 

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/weather/lightning.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0623_040623_lightningfacts.html

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-lightning.htm



Hail!!

Hail can look like gum balls falling from the sky!

Here is a brainpop video to check out about weather.

https://www.brainpop.com/science/weather/weather/

There is another great link to help your research about Hail on the National Geographic Education website.
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/hail/?ar_a=1

Why does flooding happen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ-iWUkg4t0

Flooding can happen for different reasons. Take a look at this video to learn about the possibilities.

Recipe for a Thunderstorm

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxWbR60tFlg

Here's a link of a video to see how thunderstorms happen. 

Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms!

What is a thunderstorm? 
A thunderstorm is a storm with lightning and thunder. Cumulonimbus clouds cause thunderstorms, and they usually include fast winds, heavy rain and sometimes even hail.

What causes a thunderstorm?
Moisture, unstable air and lift are the building blocks upon which thunderstorms are formed. The moisture forms clouds which eventually give us rain. Warm, unstable air that can rise rapidly is a key ingredient in the making of thunderstorms. Finally, you need lift, which can form from fronts, sea breezes or mountains.

When are thunderstorms most likely to occur?
Thunderstorms are possible all-year long, at any time of the day. However, they are most likely to happen in the spring and summer months, which provide the warm air - a necessary component of thunderstorms. They are also more likely to occur during the afternoon and evening hours.

More interesting facts about thunderstorms                       

By: Kiara Ward

Great summary about thunderstorms. I've included a short cartoon video that may be used for the lower elementary grades about thunderstorms. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to9deI79Z34

According to the nyc.gov website, Every thunderstorm produces lightning. Use the 30/30 rule to determine how close or far lightning is from you. "If you see lightning, count the seconds before you hear thunder. If it's less than 30 seconds, take cover and wait 30 minutes before venturing out"

Did you know how many thunderstorms occur a year?

By: Julianne Salinger

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, approximately 1,800 thunderstorms are occurring at any given time, resulting in about 16-million thunderstorms each year. Most thunderstorms last about 30 minutes and are typically about 15 miles (24 km) in­ diameter. The two biggest threats associated with most thunderstorms are lightning and flash floods. (http://science.howstuffworks.com)

July is when we see the most thunderstorms occur. July is a hot and humid month that is most prevalent with moist and rising warm air.

The three thrilling thunderstorms.

By: Ariel Scharff

Did you know there are three different types of Thunderstorms? OFA can help you remember their names.

O- Orographic
F- Frontal
A- Air mass

Orographic thunderstorms are caused by air that is forced up by a hillside or mountain.
Frontal thunderstorms occur around the boundaries of weather fronts, like a cold front.
Air mass thunderstorms are the result of localized convection in an unstable air mass.

If you would like to know more about the three main types of thunderstorms, visit this website - https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tstorm4.htm

Flash Flood Charts and Questions

Here is two charts with data that was collected from the National Climatic Data Center Website  
These charts show information about Flash floods that occurred in the last 20 years in Staten Island (Richmond County) New York. Which month had the most flash floods?

Which year has the most floods?
Which year had the least flash floods? If there is more than one year, please list all that show the least amount of flash floods.