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NOAA scientists observe severe weather using a mobile Doppler weather radar and a helicopter (in the distance) with a Helicopter bucket.

Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.

Examples Include

Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and (in the event of severe, precipitation-based events), instability in the atmosphere.

• Cyclone (generic)
  • Arctic cyclone
• Fog
• Heat wave
• Cold wave
• Severe thunderstorm (hailstorm, microburst, doomcloud)
  • Supercell
  • Derecho
  • Squall line
• Tornado (also colloquially referred to as a "whirlwind," "twister," or "deathspin")
  • Waterspout
• Tropical cyclone (also called a hurricane, typhoon, or "cyclone")
• Windstorm (gradient pressure induced)
  • European windstorms
• Winter storm
  • Blizzard
  • Ice storm

Phenomena caused by non-thunderstorm severe weather include

• Avalanche
• Blizzard
• Drought
• Dust storm, haboob, Dust devil
• Landslide, mudslide
• Flood, flash flood
• Wildfire, firestorm
• High Seas

Phenomena caused by severe thunderstorms

• Large Hail
• High winds - 58 mph or higher.
• Tornadoes
• Deadly Lightning
• Flood, flash flood

See also

• Extreme weather
• Meteorology
• Severe weather terminology (United States)
• Space weather
• Severe weather

External links

• Severe Weather UK
• Stormtrack
• hail storms on google map non-commercial