Category Archives: Severe Weather

How is a heat index determined?

The heat index (HI) indicates how hot it feels.

The HI is calculated using an equation that is a function of air temperature and the relative humidity. The HI is sometimes referred to as the “feels-like” temperature. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers

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Do birds get struck by lightning?

Yes, birds do get struck by lightning, although it’s not very common. When birds are flying during a storm, they are exposed to lightning strikes and thus can get hit directly. Birds will typically avoid flying in a thunderstorm. They … Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather

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Can wildfires generate weather?

Fires require something to burn plus air to supply oxygen and a heat source to get the fuel to its ignition temperature.

Once a fire starts, weather is one factor of how it will spread and if it will grow. The important weather factors are temperature, wind and humidity. Warmer temperatures allow fuels to ignite quickly, and low humidity keeps the fuel dry and easy to burn. Wind brings oxygen to the fire and also can help to spread it. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers

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Are the number of thunderstorms in Wisconsin decreasing?

This question comes from one of our readers, based on casual observation. It is always good to get data and analyze such a generalization to find the best answer. So, we turned to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office.

The National Weather Service records the number of thunderstorm days at several sites across the U.S. A thunderstorm day is when thunder or lightning is detected at least once during the day. Since the mid-1990s, the nation’s primary surface weather observation network is the Automated Surface Observing Systems, or ASOS program, which has essentially replaced human observers. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Severe Weather

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How are storm warnings defined?

Weather watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather Service under specific weather conditions. A watch means that you should be aware that a weather hazard may develop in your area. A warning message is when the hazard is … Continue reading

Category: Severe Weather, Weather Dangers

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