Dangerous meteorological phenomena with the capability to cause damage, disruption or death are often referred to under the blanket term of severe weather. Severe weather is also part of the larger umbrella term of natural disasters, which includes land, water, fire, health and space disasters.
These phenomena can occur over a vast swathe or in a relatively small area. High winds are a major cause of severe weather; they may take the form of tornadoes, downbursts, waterspouts, cyclones, etc. Other forms of severe weather include lightning, precipitation (e.g., snow, rain, sleet, hail), lack of preciptation (i.e., drought), extreme heat and extreme cold.
Excluding flash floods, the U.S. National Weather Service issues a warning across media whenever a severe weather event occurs. The photo here depicts a waterspout with lightning near a city. (Photo: Shutterstock)
July was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth
August 16, 2019, 10:50 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
July 2019 was the planet's warmest month since record-keeping began in 1880, according to NOAA.
Heat wave hits Greenland, melting 11 billion tons of ice
August 8, 2019, 2:44 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
Greenland's ice sheet is melting fast due to the same weather that recently baked Europe.
Europe swelters under devastating heat wave
July 1, 2019, 10:13 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
Temperature records across the continent continue to fall.
What to expect from the 2019 hurricane season
May 31, 2019, 2:46 p.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick
Meteorologists predict an average hurricane season, but that doesn't mean there's no danger.
More than 200 tornadoes have ravaged the U.S. in the last 12 days
May 30, 2019, 12:24 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
From Texas and Colorado through the Midwest, South and East Coast, tornadoes are tearing through the U.S.
What causes avalanches and mudslides?
April 14, 2019, 10:05 a.m. by Starre Vartan
There are a few factors that influence slide events, and climate change exacerbates most of them.
What is a 'bombogenesis'?
April 9, 2019, 10:19 a.m. by Michael d'Estries
The ominous-sounding term is used to describe a storm that rapidly intensifies in a short period of time.
Why is March weather so weird?
March 14, 2019, 11:59 a.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick
March madness applies to more than just basketball. The weather during this month can also be weird.
2,200 lightning strikes light up the sky over Southern California
March 6, 2019, 12:11 p.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick
An atmospheric river brought with it 2,200 lightning strikes across 5 hours.
Tornadoes are wreaking havoc — and not just in 'Tornado Alley'
March 4, 2019, 12:36 p.m. by Starre Vartan
Twisters can happen just about any time, anywhere.
We're starting to normalize extreme weather
February 28, 2019, 8:04 a.m. by Michael d'Estries
Even as another Arctic blast descends upon the U.S., researchers say we're quickly forgetting what 'normal' means.
Forecast warns of busy year for Tornado Alley
February 27, 2019, 11:29 a.m. by Michael d'Estries
Accuweather says warm sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico may ramp up tornado frequency in the south and central Plains.
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