Category Archives: Basic Meteorology
What is Hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Visible warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and exhaustion. The U.S. governments Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recommended steps for a person suffering…
What is frostbite?
Frostbite is freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the quicker frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet, toes, hands, fingers, ear lobes, or tip of the nose. The U.S. government's Occupational…
Wind Chill Chart
Wind chill temperature is a measure of the combined cooling effect of wind and temperature. As wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at a faster rate, driving down both the skin temperature and eventually the internal body…
What is the Difference Between a Flash Flood and a Flood?
A Flash Flood is a flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains that rip through river beds, urban…
What is the Beaufort Wind Scale?
The Beaufort Wind Scale (BEW-fert scale) or sometimes called The Wind Intensity Scale: is used to estimate wind speeds based on observation of objects in relationship to the wind. This method of measuring wind speed was named after Admiral Sir…
What is a Tropical Cyclone?
A Tropical Cyclone - generically describes a low pressure system that typically forms in the tropics. A collection of strong thunderstorms makeup a cyclone, and in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds rotate counterclockwise. In the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast…
What is the difference between a Weather Watch, Warning, and Advisory?
WATCH A watch is issued when the risk of hazardous weather has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, or timing is still uncertain.? A watch is intended to provide lead time to prepare for the potential weather event. Under watch…
