Category Archives: Phenomena

What are punch holes in clouds?

Posted on November 15, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

On Nov. 7, numerous “holes” appeared to be punched out of a cloud deck across the Upper Midwest.

Punch holes can occur after a plane flies through the cloud if the cloud droplets are supercooled, with their temperatures below freezing. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena

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What is an atmospheric river?

Posted on October 25, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

The extreme and persistent drought that has plagued parts of California for several years will be at least slightly remedied by the torrential rains that fell over the weekend over much of the central and northern part of the state.

These rains were associated with a phenomenon called an “atmospheric river.”

Atmospheric rivers are organized flows of deep, moist air from the subtropics and tropics that bring many locations in California a large portion of their annual precipitation. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Severe Weather

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What is the ozone hole?

Posted on September 27, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

Ozone is a colorless gas made up of three oxygen atoms (chemically denoted as O3). It occurs naturally in small amounts in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere), about 18 miles above the surface.

Ozone in the stratosphere is a result of a balance between sunlight that creates ozone and chemical reactions that destroy it. Ozone is created when oxygen (O2), is split apart by ultraviolet energy emitted by the sun into single oxygen atoms. The single oxygen atoms can rejoin to make O2, or they can join with O2 molecules to make ozone. Continue reading →

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Phenomena

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Why do tornadoes happen in hurricanes?

Posted on September 13, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

When hurricanes make landfall, they can spawn tornadoes.

The friction over land is much stronger than friction over water, where the hurricanes form. Frictional force quickly weakens the farther you get from the ground. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Severe Weather, Tropical

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Do car tires protect you from lightning strikes?

Posted on July 7, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

Lightning is a huge electrical discharge, or spark, that results from vigorous motions that occur in thunderstorms. While you can be safe in a car in a lightning storm, it is not because of the tires. Rubber tires do act … Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Weather Dangers

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