Weather 101

Have you ever wondered where to get the best information regarding the weather or what it's like to be a meteorologist? Here you'll find expert information about weather events and conditions that can affect you and how to understand and prepare for Mother Nature's ever-changing weather patterns.

How Air Pressure Affects Your Weather

Air pressure is all around — and it affects our weather. Find out what high pressure and low pressure are and how they affect our weather in 2 very different ways.

Smog Pollution And Fog: Weather Hazards To Watch Out For

Fog and smog may sound like similar words, but they mean 2 very different things. Fog is caused by various condensation, temperature, and wind combinations. Smog pollution is the soupy, dangerous result of what happens when pollutants get trapped in the air.

The Fujita Scale: A Weather Tool Which Measures Tornado Destruction

Tornadoes are violent, destructive storms whose strength and might can be measured with the Fujita scale. The Fujita scale, often called the F-scale, was devised by famous meteorologist Dr. Tetsuya Theodore “Ted” Fujita.

A Tropical Depression Brings Stormy Weather But Is Great For Fixing Droughts

A tropical depression is an area of tropical weather that’s stormy, centralized, can pack winds up to 38 miles per hour, and can often become a stronger system like a tropical storm, hurricane, or typhoon.

Cumulonimbus Clouds & Nimbostratus Clouds: Rain-Makers That Can Bring Severe Weather

Cumulonimbus clouds are a common type of rain-making cloud. Many can climb tens of thousands of feet into the sky and can be seen from dozens of miles away. Any cloud which produces precipitation (like rain, sleet, and snow) are referred to as nimbus clouds, with cumulonimbus clouds and nimbostratus clouds being among the most common of the clouds which produce precipitation.

How Wind Direction, Speed, And Location Determine Wind Types & Wind Names

When we talk about wind, we are talking about more than just moving air. In fact, the wind direction, the wind speed, and where the wind occurs are all important things to understand when talking about wind.

Fair Weather Cumulus Clouds – What Are They & What Do They Mean?

Fair weather cumulus clouds are the type of cloud which forms when the weather is stable and good. These puffy white clouds usually mean its safe to go out and enjoy the outdoors without the risk of bad weather coming our way… at least for now!

Snowflake Shape Can Help Us Understand Climate Change

Snowflake shape can be affected by pollution and other things in our atmosphere. But what makes snowflake shapes even more interesting is that scientists say we can use our understanding of how ice forms to learn more about future climate change.

How Pilots Avoid Thunderstorms & Lightning When Flying The Plane

Thunderstorm avoidance is one of the most important skills any pilot can learn. Here are the ways that pilots avoid thunderstorms when flying the plane.

Cold Fronts – Facts About The Winds, Temperatures & Weather Changes Due To A Cold Front

A cold front is a boundary area between warm air and cooler air. See how the wind changes, temperature changes, and weather changes overall during a cold front.

Storm Clouds: 3 States Of Water In Clouds & How They Are Seen In The Weather

See the role that the 3 water states — solid, liquid, and gas — play in weather and meteorology. Plus, see what storm clouds are like and what the sizes and colors of the clouds in the sky can tell us.

What Is An Indian Summer?

While Indian Summer is not the formal name of any time of year, it is a commonly used expression that describes the sunny, warm days of fall after the color of the leaves start to change and after a frost, but before any snowfall has occurred. See when Indian Summers occur, where they occur, and what they signify.

Can We Feel The Weather In Our Bones?

Can the weather cause aches and pains and change how we feel? Some believe so.

How Hurricanes And Typhoons Form

Learn how hurricanes and typhoons form and what you should do if one threatens your area.

How The Weather Affects Your Mind And Body

The environment can affect our health in many ways. It only seems logical that pain, mood, and general well-being would all be affected by changes in the weather, as that is all part of the environment we live in.

Winter’s Northern Lights Show Called Aurora Borealis

The Aurora Borealis, also known as The Northern Lights, are a phenomenon usually seen in the skies above the Northern polar regions of planet Earth. Here are photos and videos plus tips for taking your own pictures of The Northern Lights show.

Fun Facts About Snowflakes (…And Watch A Snowflake Form Before Your Eyes!)

Did you know that no 2 snowflakes are exactly alike? Even though there is no scientific reason that prevents it. Here’s why, plus other little-known facts about snowflakes.

How The Weather Affects Fall Foliage Colors

The weather ultimately determines why and how the leaves turn color each Fall. A small change in the weather can easily affect how colorful the leaves will be. Things such as the amount of moisture in the soil, temperature, and even the length of the days affect what colors the leaves will eventually turn — and even the brightness and hue of those colors.

Fun Facts About The Dog Days Of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer are legendary, traditional, educational… and hot!

Summer Solstice & Winter Solstice: The First Day Of Winter & First Day Of Summer Explained

We usually think of summer as that time between Memorial Day at the end of May and Labor Day in the beginning of September. Officially, that’s not really the case though. Here’s more about ‘the first day of summer’… and for that matter, ‘the first day of winter’. We’ll try to make sense of what’s going on during summer solstice and winter solstice.

How To Explain A Hurricane To Kids: 4 Great Resources That Help Kids Understand Hurricanes

Big storms like hurricanes are really tough to explain to kids. Here are some great websites which help kids learn about hurricanes, including hurricane safety and hurricane preparedness.

Cumulus Cloud Speak: What Are The Colors & Size Of Clouds Telling Us?

Here are 3 examples where the color of a cloud, combined with the thickness of that cloud, can give you some idea of what’s going on weather-wise in the skies behind it. These are scattered cumulus clouds, towering cumulus clouds, and scattered cumulus clouds.