Dust storm

Dust storm (or sandstorm in some contexts) is a meteorological phenomenon common in dry, arid and semi-arid regions. Such a storm is usually the result of convection currents created by intense heating of the ground. These currents then carry clouds of sand over large distances.


Usually, a dust storm is a result of convection currents forming from hot ground. These currents can create winds that blow up to 120 km/h. These storms are often very large and can move whole sand dunes. Dust storms can carry large amounts of dust, so much so that the leading edge of one can appear as a solid wall of dust as much as 1,525 m high. Dust storms often come off the Sahara Desert with the global trade winds. These are also known as a simoom or simoon (sîmūm, sîmūn). The haboob (həbūb) is a sandstorm prevalent in the region of Sudan around Khartoum. Drought and wind contribute to the emergence of dust storms, as do poor farming and grazing practices by exposing the dust and sand to the wind.

Read More...

Summary only...

Tornado Safety Tips

Tornado Safety Tips

A Tornado is nature's most violent wind. Regardless of the location or time of year, if conditions are right, a tornado is possible. Tornadoes can produce wind speeds of more that 250-mph and produce enough energy to run a small city. A tornado can turn harmless items into deadly missiles, move objects miles away without causing harm and bring complete devastation to entire communities.

What is a Tornado?
A tornado is an intense, rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm cloud to the ground.

When Tornadoes Strike
Tornadoes can strike at any time of day, but they are much more frequent in the afternoon and evening. This is because the heat of the day produces the hot air needed create a tornado-producing thunderstorm.


Where Tornadoes Strike

Tornadoes hit some areas so frequently that certain states make up "Tornado Alley." Although the exact states in Tornado Alley vary among sources, the most agreed upon states include Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.

How Tornadoes Strike

The ingredients of a tornado include warm damp air trapped near the ground and strong, churning winds. Large thunderstorms with rotating updrafts cause the strongest and deadliest tornadoes.

When a Tornado Watch is Issued:
Listen to local radio and TV stations for further updates
Be alert to changing weather conditions. Blowing debris or the sound of an approaching tornado may alert you

When a Tornado Warning is Issued:
Discuss safety options with Park advisor or manager.

Read More...

Summary only...

Hurricane Safety Tips

Hurricanes are habitual, unwelcome visitors to certain coastlines generally during late summer and early fall. These powerful winds form over water, then simmer for weeks while they gather energy from warm waters. The winds then turn to land pounding coasts with fierce winds, heavy rains, and swollen seas.

What is a Hurricane?
A Hurricane is a severe weather system that brings high winds, torrential rain, storm surges, and flooding-it can even produce tornadoes.



When Hurricanes Strike
Most hurricanes occur in late summer and early fall, when the ocean water is above 79 degrees.

Where Hurricanes Strike
Hurricanes most often devastate Florida, Texas and North and South Carolina. However, the states that make up the eastern seaboard have also seen their share of hurricanes.

How Hurricanes Strike
Hurricanes begin as tropical storms over the warm moist waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans near the equator. Meteorologists use the term hurricane when a storm's winds are more than 74 miles per hour.

When a Hurricane Watch is Issued:
Bring objects such as lawn furniture and trash cans inside
Cover all windows of your home with shutters or plywood
Fill your car's gas tank
Recheck tie-downs
Check batteries

Read More...

Summary only...

Lightning crashes

A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder.

"The lofty pine is oftenest shaken by the winds; High towers fall with a heavier crash; And the lightning strikes the highest mountain"

lightning in filipino is kidlat, kulog
lightning in Danish is lyn
lightning in Dutch is bliksem, schicht, flits, hemelvuur
lightning in German is Blitz, Blitzen, Blitz
lightning in Italian is baleno, lampeggiare, fulmine

Read More...

Summary only...

Hurricane

A hurricane is a severe tropical storm that forms in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South Pacific Ocean east of 160E. Hurricanes need warm tropical oceans, moisture and light winds above them. If the right conditions last long enough, a hurricane can produce violent winds, incredible waves, torrential rains and floods. In other regions of the world, these types of storms have different names.



Typhoon — (the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline)
Severe Tropical Cyclone — (the Southwest Pacific Ocean west of 160E or Southeast Indian Ocean east of 90E)
Severe Cyclonic Storm — (the North Indian Ocean)
Tropical Cyclone — (the Southwest Indian Ocean)

Hurricanes rotate in a counterclockwise direction around an "eye." A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when winds reach 74 mph. There are on average six Atlantic hurricanes each year; over a three-year period, approximately five hurricanes strike the United States coastline from Texas to Maine. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. The East Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30, with peak activity occurring during July through September. In a normal season, the East Pacific would expect 15 or 16 tropical storms. Nine of these would become hurricanes, of which four or five would be major hurricanes.

Read More...

Summary only...