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)
Massive winter storm heads for the Plains
October 11, 2019, 1:51 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
Record-setting blizzard forecasted to hit the Plains, from Colorado to Minnesota.
Why lightning is so much deadlier for animals than it is for humans
October 9, 2019, 8:42 a.m. by Christian Cotroneo
And maybe why your dog cringes whenever there's a storm.
Bizarre autumn snowstorm blasts western U.S.
September 30, 2019, 12:25 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
Montana's governor declared a state of emergency to deal with the storm.
Woman who created safe haven for 97 dogs in her home during Hurricane Dorian gets help
September 12, 2019, 12:28 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
They're on their way to forever homes.
We're only now getting a hint of Dorian's impact (Photos)
September 9, 2019, 1:15 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
The powerful storm left behind flattened homes, flooding, toppled trees and a rising death toll.
Why North Carolina's wild horses ride out hurricanes 'butts to the wind'
September 9, 2019, 8:55 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
The Spanish mustangs of the Outer Banks have been riding out storms for centuries.
How to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian
September 4, 2019, 12:08 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
People in the Bahamas are in need of food, water and other emergency supplies.
NASA images of hurricanes from space
September 3, 2019, 11:48 a.m. by Russell McLendon
NASA offers a unique vantage point for photography — especially during hurricane season. Take a look at these amazing storm photos of Earth from space.
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.
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