A dark cloud appears on the horizon. A few minutes later, the wind picks up, rain begins hitting the windows, and thunder starts rumbling in the distance. Most thunderstorms end without causing major damage, but some can quickly become serious weather emergencies. The difference is not always obvious from the ground. Understanding How Thunderstorms Become … Read more
Your phone suddenly makes a loud sound. A weather alert appears on the screen mentioning heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding, or another hazard. You open it, see several locations, times, technical terms, and instructions-and realize you are not entirely sure which part matters most. That is more common than you might think. Learning How to … Read more
Your phone suddenly displays a severe weather alert. It says a thunderstorm watch has been issued, but a few hours later, another notification announces a thunderstorm warning. The words sound similar, yet they call for very different responses. Understanding weather watches vs warnings can help you decide whether to review your plans or take immediate … Read more
A summer afternoon feels unusually hot, rain begins falling faster than drains can handle, or winds become strong enough to damage buildings. At what point does ordinary weather become extreme? The answer is not based on one universal temperature, wind speed, or rainfall total. Extreme weather is generally weather that is rare or unusually severe … Read more