Table
of Contents

The Weather Book
by Michael Oard

Lesson 6

Chapter 5 (pp. 38–47)

Textbook

The Weather Book, by Michael Oard

Text

Dangerous Thunderstorms (pp. 38–39)

Vocabulary Words

flash flood
updraft
down draft

Discussion Questions

1. Locate the vocabulary words in the glossary. Write the definition for each.
2. What percentage of yearly thunderstorms in the United States are considered dangerous?
3. How has God provided for our safety in dangerous weather?
4. What conditions are needed for a thunderstorm to develop? What is needed for a severe thunderstorm?
5. What geographical features contribute to severe thunderstorms in the United States?
6. Which regions of the United States receive the highest number of severe thunderstorms?
7. Look at the map of the United States on page 38. Florida has the most thunderstorms per year. Why?
8. Which three states have less than ten thunderstorms each year?
9. Name three reasons that flash floods occur.
10. Nearly half of the people that die in flash floods do so in their cars. In your opinion, how could such future deaths possibly be prevented?

Text

Hail and Wind Damage (pp. 40–41)

Vocabulary Words

hailstones

Discussion Questions

1. Locate the vocabulary word in the glossary. Write the definition.
2. Which cloud type is associated with hail?
3. Describe the formation of a hailstone.
4. What factors determine how fast hail falls to Earth?
5. If you find a hailstone consisting of a large amount of cloudy ice, what can you deduce about how it was formed?
6. True or false: all hailstones are smooth and round. Explain your answer.
7. What damage can be caused by hailstorms?
8. Describe three safety tips helpful for those experiencing a hailstorm.
9. What damage can be caused by a windstorm?

Text

Tornadoes (pp. 42–47)

Vocabulary Words

Doppler radar
supercell
tornado

Discussion Questions

1. Locate the vocabulary words in the glossary. Write the definition for each.
2. What is the difference between tornadoes and hurricanes?
3. What is the difference between how tornadoes and thunderstorms form?
4. Who are storm-chasers?
5. A tornado forms in a certain spot under a thunderstorm. Where is that spot?
6. Describe the most dangerous tornadoes. Tell what they look like, how fast they move, and how far they can travel.
7. Why are tornadoes considered unpredictable?
8. What does a ‘tornado watch’ indicate?
9. What does a ‘tornado warning’ indicate?
10. What makes a tornado visible?
11. Where do the largest number of waterspouts occur?

Answer Key

Dangerous Thunderstorms (pp. 38–39)

1. See glossary.
2. Ten percent.
3. He has given us the knowledge and ability to predict dangerous weather patterns so we can protect ourselves.
4. The combination of warm earth and moist air creates thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms require this condition along with a strong updraft and a strong downdraft.
5. The two features are (1) moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and (2) the warm earth of the plains.
6. These regions are the southern and central midwest.
7. This is true because warm moisture from the Gulf of Mexico moves east across Florida, and Florida stays warm most of the year.
8. California, Oregon, and Washington.
9. (1) Slow moving thunderstorms drop an unusual amount of rain on a small area that cannot be absorbed by the ground. (2) Two or more gully-washing thunderstorms hit the same spot, one after another. (3) Heavy rain falls on rapidly melting snow.
10. Accept reasonable answers. Possibly by paying more attention to weather forecasts or by not taking chances unnecessarily while driving in flash flood conditions, such as not driving across a road when water is flowing over it.

Hail and Wind Damage (pp. 40–41)

1. See glossary.
2. Cumulonimbus.
3. As a small water drop is blown upward inside a cloud, it collides with other supercooled drops, growing larger.
4. The speed of the downdraft determines the speed of the hail.
5. The cloudy ice is caused mainly by rapid freezing, trapping many air bubbles.
6. False. Hail comes in strange shapes, sometimes with ragged edges.
7. Answers should include crop losses, property damage, injury, and possible death.
8. Accept reasonable answers.
9. Losses include damage to mobile homes, roofs, and airplane crashes.

Tornadoes (pp. 42–47)

1. See glossary.
2. Tornadoes are relatively small, while hurricanes cover hundreds of miles.
3. For tornadoes, the updraft must be halted for a while by a layer of warm air just above the ground.
4. Storm chasers are professional people who try to get as close to a tornado as possible so they can film and take pictures of it.
5. Tornadoes form under the thunderstorm where there is little rain or lightning, in the southwest part of the storm cloud.
6. The most dangerous tornadoes are thick, black clouds that are 2,000 feet across. They spin at 250—300 mph. They move about 50 mph across the land. They can travel for 100 miles and have a damage path of over 1 mile wide.
7. Tornadoes can change shape as they move. They can also go back up into the cloud and to the ground again.
8. A tornado watch indicates conditions are right for a tornado to form.
9. A tornado warning indicates a tornado has been spotted or seen on Doppler radar.
10. We are able to see tornadoes because of condensed water vapor, dust, and debris.
11. The largest number of waterspouts occurs in the Florida Keys.