SEVERE WEATHER: Thunderstorms, Hurricanes & Tornadoes Miss Conard: 4 th Grade What are some of the conditions and effects of severe weather? What can I do to be safe when disaster strikes? THUNDERSTORMS: Storm with lightning & thunder, strong winds, heavy rain and sometimes hail! How? Moisture, unstable air and lifts (fronts, breeze, mountains). THUNDERSTORM SAFETY: Lightening, flash floods, hail damage are serious effects. Lightening: stay away from windows/electronics/metal Flash floods: higher ground Hail: take cover HURRICANES: A huge storm that usually lasts over a week. The eye is the calmest part of the storm. HURRICANES Video from National Geographic:videos/hurricanes-101 HURRICANE SAFETY: Results: Heavy winds Damage to personal property Severe flooding What to do: Have an emergency kit/plan Evacuate if possible Stay away from flood plains, windows, and stay indoors TORNADOES: Is a violent, rotating column of air Wind speeds up to 300 MPH Avg. 1,000 per year Formed from moist, hot air meeting cool, dry air. TORNADO SAFETY: Causes heavy wind damage and destruction Go to basement or interior room in house Get out of car or mobile home Find low lying ditch to lay in Follow school plan if in school WEATHER MAKER/weather/weathersim.swf Control the weather conditions to make your own type of severe weather: SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGSAcross the US, there are many different types of severe weather. This is the official severe weather warning map: RESOURCES:arizona_34356_990x742.jpg jpg