Monthly Archives: June 2011

Does lightning travel from the earth to the sky, or from the sky downward?

Lightning travels both ways.

Lightning is a huge electrical discharge that results from vigorous motions that occur in thunderstorms. Lightning can travel from cloud . . . Continue reading

Category: Severe Weather
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What is the Heat Index?

The heat index, or apparent temperature index, indicates how hot it feels. It is expressed as a function of air temperature and the relative humidity. . . Continue reading

Category: Meteorology
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What is a Heat Burst?

Heat bursts are sudden, usually dramatic increases in the surface temperature, often accompanied by strong winds, that sometimes occur in the vicinity of a thunderstorm. Though they are not an everyday occurrence, they are not exceptionally unusual either . . . Continue reading

Category: Phenomena
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What are the Light Beams Coming from Clouds Called?

Brilliant beams of light extending from clouds are often seen during the early morning or early evening when the sun is shining. This phenomenon . . . Continue reading

Category: Phenomena
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