Severe Weather Educational Resources | NESDIS | National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
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Severe Weather Educational Resources
The Most Extreme Weather in America
North America is home to a variety of climate types and severe weather events. To stay ahead of severe weather, satellites continually monitor our atmosphere. The data and images they collect are sent back to Earth in near real-time. Meteorologists keep a close eye on that satellite data to warn us about extreme weather heading our way. When it comes to watching out for severe weather, the GOES and JPSS satellites have us covered!
Learn more about the most extreme weather in America!
Hurricanes
How Does a Hurricane Form?
The most violent storm on earth
How Does a Hurricane Form?
Hurricane Simulation
Play the game
Hurricane Simulation
Video: How Do Hurricanes Form?
Watch the video on hurricane formation
Video: How Do Hurricanes Form?
How Big Was Typhoon Haiyan?
One of the largest and strongest typhoons ever
How Big Was Typhoon Haiyan?
Tornadoes
What Causes Tornadoes?
Tornadoes form from a large thunderstorm
What Causes Tornadoes?
Tornado Simulator
Adjust the tornado!
Tornado Simulator
Thunderstorms & Lightning
What Causes a Thunderstorm?
Moisture, unstable air and lift can cause thunderstorms
What Causes a Thunderstorm?
What Causes Lightning and Thunder?
Static charges are always "looking" for opportunity
What Causes Lightning and Thunder?
How Far Away Is Lightning?
You can figure it out by counting the seconds
How Far Away Is Lightning?
Make Lightning with ZAP!
Charges that build up within a storm cloud
Make Lightning with ZAP!
A History of Lightning Detection
Lightning detectors actually detect radio waves
A History of Lightning Detection
What Is a Gust Front?
A line of dangerously gusty winds
What Is a Gust Front?
Flooding & Drought
Causes of Floods
Conditions that lead to heavy rain
Causes of Floods
What Can Cause Severe Flooding?
Heavy rain and raging rivers
What Can Cause Severe Flooding?
What Is a Derecho?
Fast-moving bands of thunderstorms
What Is a Derecho?
What Is a Monsoon?
A shift in winds
What Is a Monsoon?
What Causes a Drought?
Drier than normal conditions
What Causes a Drought?
2014 California Drought
The worst drought in 1,200 years
2014 California Drought
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