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WEATHER
Weather is sunshine, rain, snow, wind, and storms. It's what is going on outside right now. The weather is
different at different places around the planet. In some places it's sunny right now, while in other places it's snowing.
Many things affect the weather including the atmosphere, the Sun, and the season.
The science of weather is called meteorology. Meteorologists study the weather and try to predict it. Predicting
the weather is not easy as there are so many factors and variables involved.
Different places in the world tend to have different kinds of weather. Some places, like San Diego, California are
warm and sunny for much of the year. While others, like the tropical rain forests, get rain most every day. Still others are
cold and snowy most of the year, like Alaska.

What is Wind?
Wind is the result of air moving around in the atmosphere. Wind is caused by differences in air pressure. Cool air
is heavier than hot air. A lot of cool air will create an area of high pressure. A lot of hot air will create an area of low
pressure. When areas of low pressure and high pressure meet, the air will want to move from the high pressure area to
the low pressure area. This creates wind. The larger the difference in temperature between the two areas of pressure,
the faster the wind will blow.

Wind on the Earth

On the Earth there is always an area of low pressure at the poles where the air is always cold. There is also
higher pressure at the equator where the air is hot. These two major areas of air pressure keep the wind constantly
moving about the Earth. The spin of the Earth also affects the direction of winds. This is called the Coriolis Effect.

Precipitation (rain and snow)

When water falls from clouds it's called precipitation. This can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Rain forms from the
water cycle. The sun heats up water on the Earth's surface. Water evaporates into vapor and travels into the
atmosphere. As more and more water condenses, clouds form. Eventually water droplets in clouds become large and
heavy enough that gravity pulls them back to the ground in the form of rain.
We get snow when the temperature is below freezing and small ice crystals stick together to form snowflakes.
Each snow flake is unique making no two snowflakes exactly alike. Hail generally gets formed in large thunderstorms
where balls of ice get blown several times up into the cold atmosphere. Each time another layer of water on the ball of
ice gets frozen making the ball larger and larger until it finally falls to the ground.

Clouds
Clouds are tiny drops of water in the air. They are so small and light that they float in the air.
Clouds form from condensed water vapor. This can occur in a number of ways. One way is when warm air or a
warm front, meets up with cold air or a cold front. The warm air will be forced upward and into colder air. When the
warm air starts to drop in temperature, water vapor will condense into liquid droplets and clouds will form. Also, warm
damp air can blow up against a mountain. The mountain will force the air up into the atmosphere. As this air cools,
clouds will form. That's why there are often clouds at the top of mountains.
Not all clouds are the same. There are three main types of clouds called cumulus, cirrus, and stratus.
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Cumulus - Cumulus clouds are the big puffy white clouds. They look like floating cotton. Sometimes they can turn into
cumulonimbus or tall towering cumulus clouds. These clouds are thunderstorm clouds.
Cirrus - Cirrus clouds are high, thin clouds made of ice crystals. They generally mean good weather is on the way.
Stratus - Stratus clouds are the low flat and large clouds that tend to cover the entire sky. They give us those "overcast"
days and can drop light rain called drizzle.
Fog - Fog is a cloud that forms right at the surface of the Earth. Fog can make it very hard to see and dangerous for
driving a car, landing a plane, or piloting a ship.

Weather Fronts
A weather front is a boundary between two different air masses, a warm air mass and a cold air mass. There
is usually stormy weather at a weather front.
A cold front is where cold air meets warm air. The cold air will move under the warm air forcing the warmer
air to rise quickly. Because the warm air can rise quickly, cold fronts can cause cumulonimbus clouds to form with heavy
rain and thunderstorms.
A warm front is where warm air meets cold air. In this case the warm air will rise slowly over the top of the
cold air. Warm fronts can cause long periods of light rain and drizzle.
Sometimes a cold front can catch up to a warm front. When this happens it creates an occluded front. Occluded
fronts can generate heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Answer the following. Write your answer on the blank below the number.
1. What is the science of weather called?

2. What causes wind?

3. Where is there generally a cold area of low pressure on Earth?

4. What is it called when the spin of the Earth affects the direction of the Earth's winds?

5. Which of the following is a form a precipitation?

6. What type of clouds are high, thin clouds made of ice crystals?

7. What type of clouds are low flat clouds that create overcast days?

8. What type of clouds are the big puffy white clouds that can turn into thunderstorms?

9. What do we call a cloud that forms right on the surface of the Earth?

10. What do we call the boundary between two different air masses?
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Find the words listed inside the word search puzzle.

HURRICANES (TROPICAL CYCLONES)

What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a large rotating storm with high speed winds that
forms over warm waters in tropical areas. Hurricanes have
sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour and an area of low air
pressure in the center called the eye.

Different Names for Hurricanes

The scientific name for a hurricane is a tropical cyclone.
Tropical cyclones go by different names in different places. In North
America and the Caribbean they are called "hurricanes", in the Indian
Ocean they are called "cyclones", and in Southeast Asia they are called
"typhoons."

How do hurricanes form?

Hurricanes form over the warm ocean water of the tropics. When warm moist air over the water rises, it is
replaced by cooler air. The cooler air will then warm and start to rise. This cycle causes huge storm clouds to form. These
storm clouds will begin to rotate with the spin of the Earth forming an organized system. If there is enough warm water,
the cycle will continue and the storm clouds and wind speeds will grow causing a hurricane to form.
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Parts of a Hurricane

 Eye - At the center of the hurricane is the eye. The eye is an area of very low air pressure. There are generally no
clouds in the eye and the wind is calm. Don't let this fool you, however, the most dangerous part of the storm is
at the edge of the eye called the eye wall.
 Eye wall - Around the outside of the eye is a wall made up of very heavy clouds. This is the most dangerous part
of the hurricane and where the highest speed winds are. The winds at the eye wall can reach speeds of 155
miles per hour.
 Rainbands - Hurricanes have large spirally bands of rain called rainbands. These bands can drop huge amounts of
rainfall causing flooding when the hurricane hits land.
 Diameter - Hurricanes can become huge storms. The diameter of the hurricane is measured from one side to the
other. Hurricanes can span a diameter of over 600 miles.
 Height - The storm clouds that power hurricanes can become very tall. A powerful hurricane can reach nine
miles into the atmosphere.

The structure of a hurricane

Where do tropical cyclones occur?

Tropical cyclones occur over the ocean in areas near the equator. This is because there is plenty of warm water
in these areas to allow the storms to form. There are seven major areas in the world that tend to produce tropical
cyclones. See the map below.

Locations of tropical cyclones throughout the world

When do hurricanes occur?

Hurricanes that form in the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean occur between June 1st and November 30th
each year. This is called hurricane season.
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Why are hurricanes dangerous?

When hurricanes strike land they can cause huge amounts of damage. Most of the damage is caused by
flooding and storm surge. Storm surge is when the ocean level rises at the coastline due to the power of the storm.
Hurricanes also cause damage with high speed winds that can blow down trees and damage homes. Many hurricanes
can develop several small tornados as well.

How are they named?

Hurricanes in the Atlantic are named based on a list of names maintained by the World Meteorological
Organization. The names go in alphabetical order and the storms are named as they appear. So the first storm of the
year will always have a name that starts with the letter "A." There are six lists of names and each year a new list is used.

Categories
Tropical cyclones are categorized according to the speed of sustained winds.

 Tropical Depression - 38 mph or less

 Tropical Storm - 39 to 73 mph

Hurricane

 Category 1 - 74 to 95 mph
 Category 2 - 96 to 110 mph
 Category 3 - 111 to 129 mph
 Category 4 - 130 to 156 mph
 Category 5 - 157 or higher mph

Interesting Facts about Hurricanes

 Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. This
is due to the rotation of the Earth called the Coriolis effect.
 The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not used for the first letter when naming hurricanes.
 The names are alternated between boy and girl names.
 Weather forecasters draw a cone showing where they think the hurricane is most likely to travel.
 You can always find out the latest information on hurricanes at the website of the National Hurricane Center
which tracks and forecasts hurricanes.

Answer the following. Write your answer on the blank below the number.
1. Where do hurricanes form?

2. What are hurricanes that form in the Indian Ocean sometimes called?

3. What is the area of low pressure at the center of a hurricane called?

4. Where is the most dangerous part of the hurricane with the highest speed winds?

5. What is the minimum sustained wind speed a tropical storm must have to be called a hurricane?

6. What do we call the large spirally bands of rain that are generated from a hurricane?
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7. True or False: Hurricanes can grow to over 600 miles wide and 9 miles tall.

8. What is 'storm surge'?

9. How do hurricanes cause damage when they make landfall?

10. If a hurricane had sustained winds of 80 mph and was 700 miles in diameter, what category of hurricane would it
be?

PAGASA's public storm warning system, rainfall advisories

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) predicted that at least 17 tropical cyclones will hit the country from May to October this year after it declared
the start of the rainy season last month.
To help citizens prepare for the onslaught of the storms, PAGASA issues Public Storm Warning Signals that indicate the
intensity, the areas that will be affected and the forecast direction and speed of the tropical storm or typhoon.
The public storm warning system (PSWS) is as follows:

PSWS No. 1: The first signal indicates that the area affected should expect intermittent rains within at least 36
hours. Winds of 30 kph to 60 kph should be expected, although it is unlikely that they will cause significant damage. As a
precaution, classes in all public and private pre-schools are automatically suspended.
PSWS No. 2: The second warning signal is raised in areas that will experience winds of 60 kph to 100 kph within
at least 24 hours. Light to moderate damage is expected. Some trees may be uprooted and roofs blown away. People
traveling by air and sea are cautioned, and disaster preparedness agencies should be alerting their respective
communities. Classes from pre-school to high school are suspended.
PSWS No. 3: When the third warning signal is raised, people are advised to seek shelter inside strong buildings,
evacuate low-lying areas, and stay away from coasts and riverbanks as moderate to heavy damage is expected. Winds of
100 kph to 185 kph are expected within at least 18 hours. The winds could topple trees and destroy crops and houses
made of light materials. Widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services is also expected. Classes
at all levels are automatically suspended.
PSWS No. 4: The fourth storm warning signal indicates that a very intense typhoon with winds of more than 185
kph may be expected within at least 12 hours. The typhoon is potentially very destructive. Large trees are expected to
be uprooted and residential and institutional buildings could be severely damaged. Travels and outdoor activities should
be cancelled.
PSWS No. 5: This recently added storm warning signal is raised when a super typhoon will affect an area. Very
powerful winds of more than 220 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours. This typhoon is "extremely destructive or
catastrophic" to the community as almost total damage to structures is expected. Most residential and institutional
buildings may be severely damaged, and only a few crops and trees will be left standing. Evacuation to safer shelters
should be completed early as it may already be too late if it hasn't begun. The disaster coordinating councils concerned
and other disaster response organizations should be fully responding to emergencies by this time or completely ready to
immediately respond to the calamity.

To further help citizens prepare for heavy rains and flooding, PAGASA also has the following color-coded rainfall or
storm surge advisory system:

Yellow Rainfall Advisory: Citizens should expect flooding in low-lying areas as 7.5-15 mm of rainfall (8 liters per square
meter/hour) is expected within one hour and is likely to continue in the next two hours. There is also a possibility of a
storm surge of .5-1 meter high. Everyone is advised to monitor the weather condition because the rainfall warning
could be raised.

Orange Rainfall Advisory: Intense rains of 15-30 mm (15-30 liters per square meter/hour) are expected within one hour
and flooding is considered a definite threat in communities under this alert. Rainfall is expected to continue in the next
two hours and storm surges 1 meter to 3 meters high are expected.
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Red Rainfall Advisory: This rainfall advisory is issued when downpours constitute an emergency. It is raised when the
torrential rainfall is more than 30 mm within one hour or if it has continued for the past three hours and has risen to
more than 65 mm (30 liters per square meter/hour). Storm surges over 3 meters high are expected and will most likely
cause severe damage to coastal and marine infrastructure. Serious flooding is expected in low lying areas and
evacuation to designated safe zones is recommended.

How does PAGASA name typhoons in the Philippines?

These are the names of the first three storms that are expected to visit the country this 2018, according to
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). In 1998, PAGASA launched a “
Name A Bagyo” contest, asking Filipinos to send names which will be used to call storms that will enter the country. The
weather bureau chose 140 Filipino names that will let our countrymen easily remember the typhoon. They created a
four-columned list with 25 names. The said list is used once every four years. For this year, PAGASA used Agaton,
Basyang, Caloy, Domeng, Ester, Florita, Gardo, Henry, Inday, Josie, Karding, Luis, Maymay, Neneng, Ompong, Paeng,
Queenie, Rosita, Samuel, Tomas, Usman, Venus, Waldo, Yayang, and Zeny. These set of names will again be used in
2022, 2026, and 2023. PAGASA also prepares an Auxiliary list with 10 names (A-J) in case more than 25 cyclones visit the
country. Meanwhile, destructive storms—such as Yolanda and Ondoy—which took away more than 300 lives and
damaged properties amounting to more than P1 billion will be removed from the list and will never be used again.

Precautionary Measures We Follow Before, During, And After A Typhoon

It is important to remember that typhoons have a distinct “eye”, which is an area of calm. So during a typhoon,
beware of a sudden calm and bright weather. The eye of the storm might be passing by your locality. Do not attempt to
go out of your shelter. Within a couple of hours, the eye of the storm will go past your locality and you will again
experience dangerously high speeding winds blowing in the opposite direction as what passed your area before the
calm. Try to explain to the other members of your family why the winds blow in one direction before the “eye” of the
storm passes one’s locality and then blows in the opposite direction after the “eye” of the storm passes.
Below is a more comprehensive list of precautionary measures we can do before, during, and after a typhoon. They may
be additional measures that may be added to these lists.

Before a Typhoon:
1. Help your family check and fix your house for any damage (especially the roofs and windows), so it can withstand the
strong winds.
2. Remind your family members to stock up an adequate food supply such as rice, canned goods, and foods that would
last even without refrigeration.
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3. Stock up an adequate supply of drinking water, and water for cleaning or other purposes.
4. Prepare flashlights, batteries for flashlights and radio, candles and kerosene lamps, or other lighting devices.
5. Prepare a first-aid kit.
6. Always monitor news about the typhoon, whether on television or radio. If the power is cut, keep a radio on and
tuned in to news.
7. Help check and clean your community drainage system and canals to prevent flood.
8. Check your electric posts to prevent accidents. If you notice some impending danger due to weak electric posts that
might fall, report this to the electric company so they can reinforce it right away.
9. Remind family members to cut all branches of trees around your house that could possibly fall on your house.
10. Help check all electrical warnings.
11. Teach younger members of your family what to do during a typhoon.
12. Pack a bag with clothes, batteries, flashlight, water, canned goods and other necessities, in case you have to
evacuate.

During a Typhoon:
1. Stay calm and be alert.
2. Stay indoors. Postpone any plans of travels or errands.
3. Monitor the weather reports. Check what is happening around you.
4. When local authorities advise you to evacuate, do so. Move family pets and valuable to a safe place; turn off gas
valves, electricity and water, when safe to do so.
5. If you happen to be outdoors when a typhoon comes, (a) stay away from electric posts and wires; (b) never stand
under a lone tree in an open field to avoid being hit by lightning; (c) never fix your TV antenna during a
thunderstorm; (d) stay away from boats and from bodies of water; and (e) enter the nearest
1. safe shelter.
2. Avoid staying or going to low-lying and coastal areas that are prone to floods or storm surge.
3. Be ready to evacuate if necessary. Leave your house as soon as you realize you are not safe.
4. Boil drinking water or have some bottled water ready.
5. If you happen to be in a car or any land vehicle when the typhoon comes, you are usually safe, but not when there is
a flood.
6. If you roofs have very little vents where winds pass through, or sometimes, when the winds of a typhoon are very
strong, you may need to open a few windows in the opposite side of your house to let the wind pass through.
7. Monitor flood reports and predictions.
8. Have a flood plan which everyone in the family will follow when necessary. Be prepared to act on your food plan.
Prepare a flood kit of essential items, just like your essentials for typhoons.

After a Typhoon:
1. Have a knowledgeable person inspect electrical wiring before using electrical appliances. It is usually advisable not to
use appliances immediately after a typhoon especially if your house got flooded.
2. Check for any damage, including water pipes, and help make necessary repairs as soon as possible.
3. Boil water before drinking it to avoid getting sick.
4. Wear slippers, shoes or other footwear, for protection from any sharp or pointed objects that might have fallen.
5. Avoid electrical wires that have fallen.
6. Stay away from flood waters. They carry water-borne diseases. Many people who have survived a storm but braved
flood waters actually have been hospitalized, not just for injuries or diarrhea, but also to the deadly leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is also known as Weil’s syndrome, and is caused by bacterial infection when dirty water contaminated
with animal urine (commonly rats) comes in contact with a person’s unhealed wounds or scratches, newly pedicure
nails, a person’s eyes, or with mucous membranes (like in skin, nostrils, mouth, lips, eyelids, ears, genital area and
anus).
7. Clean and clear everything damaged by the typhoon.
8. Stay in a safe place with a means of escape.