Weather

Fun Weather Coloring Pages For Kids... They're Free!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:11:59 -0600

Here's some weather fun -- weather coloring books offered by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

These fun coloring books feature 2 fun kid characters named Billy and Maria. Together, they introduce their young coloring friends to a number of interesting weather topics, including tornado safety, thunderstorms, winter weather, and a trip to the National Weather Service (NWS).

These weather coloring books for kids can be downloaded and printed for free.

They would make wonderful activity books for your children, your students, or any other young friends or family members who might have an interest in weather and meteorology!

There are many great ways to help pique a young person's interest in weather, including fun weather activities and experiments that will certainly make any young child curious about weather, meteorology, and all the great and dramatic things that happen in the sky.

How And Why Hurricanes Form

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:57:43 -0600

Hurricanes can cause severe and even devastating destruction to homes and businesses when the storms make landfall.

But in nature they serve a very important role.

Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters when gathering thunderstorms become an area of low pressure and further strengthen.

Hurricanes can travel at speeds of 20 miles per hour or greater and pack winds of over 155 miles per hour. It's easy to see why hurricanes wind up doing some pretty extreme damage.

So, how exactly do hurricanes serve a good purpose when they tend to destroy our communities and many things within them?

Actually, hurricanes do a number of beneficial things:

Hurricanes cool off areas underneath with rain, wind, and cloud cover.
Rains from a hurricane can snap a drought very quickly.
Hurricanes may destroy trees and mess up beaches, but in the process they encourage the growth of new trees and create new sand bars and other beach formations.

Top Global Warming Commercials On TV

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:34:18 -0600

You know global warming has become an issue when TV commercials we watch feature global warming as a main topic!

Global warming is an important problem we face today. We really cannot escape it. When temperatures stay warm during the fall or winter, snow doesn't fall, or we hear of yet another ice shelf collapsing off Antarctica -- like it or not, global warming has our attention.

These 10 global warming commercials range from sarcastic to poignant, but they all drive home an important point: we cannot avoid facing the sobering reality of global warming.

There are many people who do not believe global warming is being caused by humans' activities since the Industrial Revolution. Yet, whether we cause warmer global temperatures or not, the point is that we are caught in a trend of temperatures which are increasing every year and facing the meltaway of Greenland's and the Arctic's ice caps.

Tips For Watching The Next Meteor Shower

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:35:29 -0600

Meteor showers happen often and can be seen at various times from a variety of locations all over the world.

The most challenging part about watching meteor showers is knowing when they can be seen from a location near you.

Here's when you can expect to see the next meteor shower and what to expect.

Once you nail down a time and a location, the next hurdle is making sure Mother Nature keeps clear skies above -- so you can actually see the meteor shower!

Believe me, clouds really can be a problem with meteor showers. I have tried to view some meteor showers in the past but the sky got cloudy and I couldn't see any meteors streaking across the heavens!

Thankfully, there is almost always a meteor shooting across the sky somewhere, so if you wait long enough you will likely see one.

FUN TIP: If you want to hear meteor showers, turn on your FM radio so that all you hear is static. Whenever a meteor shower happens, the ionosphere (where radio waves bounce up in the atmosphere) is ionized, temporarily allowing stations up to 1,000 miles away to be heard on your radio!

When Is The Next Ice Age Going To Happen?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:23:30 -0600

Whether you think humans are causing earth's warming temperatures or not, you are going to have to put a jacket on sometime in the future.

Why?

Because scientists believe we will eventually see another Ice Age sometime in the future... perhaps the distant future.

We have had ice ages before, and not just the "big one" thousands of years ago that most of us have heard about.

Actually, miniature ice ages can occur -- such as when Mount Tambora's eruption in 1815 caused a massive cooling spell the following year in 1816 (or, as many call it, "the year without a summer"). Many of us recall Mount Pinatubo's eruption in 1991. That eruption sent up so much debris into the atmosphere that 1992 and 1993 were cooler in many areas than in other years during that era.

While volcanic eruptions are scary and quite dangerous, it might be that another major eruption could actually lessen some of the effects of global warming that we see today -- even if it's only temporary.

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

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:26:09 -0600

Autumn and winter are typically characterized by numerous cold fronts.

Cold fronts are not themselves actual masses of cold air, per se. Cold fronts simply are the line (or transition area) between a warmer air mass and the cooler air mass moving in.

While most cold fronts are accompanied by clouds, rain, and often severe storms, some cold fronts pass without much -- if any -- fanfare at all.

Here's everything you want to know about weather cold fronts...

Continue reading...

VIDEO: Turn Boiling Water Into Ice Crystals Instantly!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:08:25 -0600

Cool! Here's a fire and ice experiment you are going to love.

Did you know you can turn boiling water into ice crystals?

I never knew either, until I saw this great video that shows the whole thing being done right before my very eyes.

It's quick, and you can't blink, so watch carefully -- that boiling water turns into ice crystals in a flash!

Snow is coming down in parts of the country already, and some folks have already seen some blisteringly cold weather, so maybe you can give it a try yourself sometime!

And don't forget that their are many other ways to have fun with snow, too. Here's to a fun winter, everybody!

Tips For Viewing Sun Dogs - No, They're Not Rainbows!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:16:02 -0600

Ever hear of a sundog?

While some people may think of a golden retriever or dachshund sitting in a lawn chair and basking in the sun, a real sun dog has nothing to do with dogs.

But they sure do have a lot to do with the sun!

By the way, sun dogs, are often referred to by their Latin name: parhelion (or parhelia, when referring to more than one parhelion).

Sun dogs are also sometimes called "mock suns."

Okay, so what exactly are sun dogs?...

Continue reading...

How To Predict The Weather Without A Forecast

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:23:18 -0600

Did you know that it is possible to predict stormy weather without having to read a forecast?

It's true. But it takes some skill.

The key is in learning Mother Nature's signs and symbols which indicate what future weather is going to be like.

For example:

A red sky in the west indicates fair weather is likely coming your way
A red sky in the east during the morning means storms could soon be charging toward you.

There are many similar tips, tricks, and tactics which people use to forecast the weather on their own. If you take your time to study weather patterns, you will soon find that forecasting the weather on your own can be a piece of cake and a load of fun!

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

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:56:52 -0600

Do you know what the 3 states of water are in clouds? They are:

Solid
Liquid
Gas

In meteorology, these 3 states of water are seen as:

Hail (a solid)
Rain (a liquid)
Water Vapor (a gas)

Clouds definitely play a very important role in those 3 states of water.

So, what are the sizes and colors of clouds telling us? Well, cloud sizes and cloud colors always mean something very specific to meteorologists. For example, large, towering clouds tend to mean rain and even strong storms may soon be on the way.

Snow Fences Prevent Snow From Piling Up Around Your Home

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:30:35 -0600

With winter on its way, you are probably already dreading the snow drifts which will likely pile up near your driveway, sidewalk, or house. That is where you install a snow fence -- a fence designed to contain and control snow drifts.

A snow fence works in creating a snow drift on the downwind side of the fence. So while you really can't stop the formation of snow drifts, you can at least control how and where they form.

And while talking about snow drifts, it is also important we quickly turn our attention to the roof of your house which can also suffer from snow damage if not tended to properly.

Snow piling up on a roof can cause a collapse. It is important you buy the right tools for the job (snow shovels and snow rakes) and that you avoid damaging your roof with the tools you use to remove the snow. (Asphalt roofs can be easily damaged by sharp metal tools, so plastic tools might be a better idea for a common asphalt roof.)

Don't forget to get rid of the snow on your roof before it gets to be about 12 inches thick.

How To Capture And Save Snowflakes

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:54:14 -0600

Now you can bring your snow inside, thanks to this clever little trick!

Materials needed:

piece of glass
aerosol hairspray

Steps:

#1 Freeze the piece of glass and the hairspray can overnight.

#2 Spray your chilled glass with the chilled hairspray.

#3 Go outside and let some snowflakes settle on the glass. When you
have enough flakes bring the glass indoors and allow it to thaw at room
temperature for about 15 minutes.

#4 Now you have a permanent record of your snowflakes!

Weather Question: What's It Like Being A Meteorologist?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:17:43 -0600

What's it like to be a meteorologist? Students questioned an Illinois meteorologist to find out more about what it's like being a weather person.

Questions included "What's the worst weather you have ever seen?" and "What's the hardest part of your job?"

While meteorology is a serious job, many weather people have had quote a bit of fun in their jobs, including making a few goofs while giving the weather on the television. You've got to check out some of these funny weatherman videos!

Halloween Fun: Weather-Related Costumes

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:44:23 -0600

For Halloween this year, do you know what you will dress up as?

Why not be a "chance of rain" for Halloween? This is a creative costume idea that will certainly have heads turning and umbrellas going up!

There are many other easy and unique weather-related Halloween costumes you can make, too. Some of them include:

Weather forecaster
Mother Nature
Blizzard
Sun

Weather 101: How Warm Fronts Bring Heat And Humidity

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:10:41 -0600

While it's still warm outside (and enjoy it now, because it will be getting cold sometime soon!), let's look at warm fronts.

Warm fronts mark the boundary between a cool air mass and a mass of advancing warm air. On a weather map, the warm front is usually depicted as a red line with red semi-circles.

The warm front (the boundary itself) often brings stormy weather.
The weather behind a warm front can quickly turn hot and humid.