When discussing extreme weather events, it’s essential to have a grasp of the terminology to accurately describe and understand the various phenomena that occur. Below is a comprehensive list of English terms used to describe a wide range of extreme weather events.
1. Storms and Wind Events
- Hurricane: A tropical cyclone with winds exceeding 74 mph (119 km/h).
- Typhoon: Similar to a hurricane but with winds exceeding 74 mph (119 km/h) and occurring in the Western Pacific Ocean.
- Cyclone: A general term for a low-pressure system characterized by strong winds, rain, and stormy conditions.
- Tornado: A violent rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground.
- Microburst: A sudden, intense downburst of wind associated with severe thunderstorms, typically less than 2.5 miles (4 km) in diameter.
- Supercell Thunderstorm: A long-lasting, rotating thunderstorm with a very organized storm structure.
- Dust Storm: A high-speed wind that picks up large amounts of sand or dust from a dry area.
2. Precipitation Events
- Flood: An overflow of water onto normally dry land.
- Downpour: A heavy, steady rain.
- Hail: Ice pellets that form within a thunderstorm.
- Snowstorm: A severe snowfall, often accompanied by strong winds.
- Blizzard: A severe snowstorm with strong winds, low temperatures, and poor visibility.
- Sleet: Rain that falls on a surface that is below freezing and turns into ice before reaching the ground.
- Freeze-Up: A sudden drop in temperature causing precipitation to freeze on surfaces.
- Avalanche: A mass of snow and ice moving rapidly down a mountain slope.
3. Temperature Events
- Heatwave: A period of unusually hot weather lasting two or more days.
- Cold snap: A sudden drop in temperature over a short period.
- Freeze: The state of a liquid when it becomes solid.
- Freezing rain: Rain that falls on a surface that is below freezing and turns into ice before reaching the ground.
- Snowmelt: The process of snow melting due to an increase in temperature.
4. Other Extreme Weather Events
- Drought: A prolonged period of unusually dry weather.
- Dust Bowl: A region that experienced severe dust storms during the 1930s due to drought and farming practices.
- Tsunami: A series of large waves caused by an underwater disturbance, such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or underwater explosion.
- Wildfire: An uncontrolled fire that spreads rapidly across forested areas or other combustible terrain.
- Fog: A thick cloud at ground level that reduces visibility.
- Haze: A reduction in visibility caused by airborne particles, such as dust, smog, or smoke.
- Frost: A deposit of ice formed on surfaces when the temperature falls below freezing.
- Mudslide: A sudden movement of mud, water, and rock down a slope.
- Lightning: A discharge of electrical energy caused by the buildup of static electricity in the atmosphere.
- Mist: A fine suspension of water droplets in the air that reduces visibility to a few hundred meters.
- Rainbow: A spectrum of colors produced by the refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets.
Understanding these terms is crucial for meteorologists, emergency management professionals, and the general public to prepare for, respond to, and recover from extreme weather events.