Thunderstorms 101: How to Understand and Survive Nature’s Most Electrifying Phenomenon

Thunderstorm: What You Need To Know

A Thunderstorm Is A Storm That Produces Lightning And Thunder. Thunderstorms Can Also Produce Heavy Rain, Hail, Strong Winds, And Tornadoes. Thunderstorms Occur When Moist Air Rises And Cools, Forming Clouds That Can Grow Very Tall And Produce Electricity. Thunderstorms Can Happen Anywhere In The World, But They Are More Common In Tropical And Subtropical Regions.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning Is Issued By The National Weather Service (Nws) When A Severe Thunderstorm Is Occurring Or Imminent. A Severe Thunderstorm Is Defined As A Storm That Produces One Or More Of The Following:

Hail Of 1 Inch In Diameter Or Larger

Wind Gusts Of 58 Mph Or Higher

A Tornado

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning Means That There Is A Serious Threat To Life And Property To Those In The Path Of The Storm. The Warning Will Include Where The Storm Was Located, What Towns Will Be Affected By The Severe Thunderstorm, And The Primary Threat Associated With The Severe Thunderstorm Warning1.

If You Are Under A Severe Thunderstorm Warning, You Should Take Shelter In A Sturdy Building Away From Windows And Doors. Avoid Using Electrical Appliances And Corded Phones. Do Not Touch Metal Objects Or Plumbing. Stay Away From Trees, Power Lines, And Other Tall Objects That Could Fall Or Be Struck By Lightning.

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service (Nws) Is A Federal Agency That Provides Weather Forecasts, Warnings, And Information For The United States And Its Territories. The Nws Operates A Network Of Weather Radars, Satellites, Observers, And Computer Models That Help Monitor And Predict Weather Conditions. The Nws Also Issues Watches, Warnings, And Advisories For Various Types Of Hazardous Weather, Such As Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Floods, Hurricanes, Winter Storms, And Fire Weather2.

The Nws Has 122 Local Forecast Offices (Lfos) That Cover Specific Geographic Areas And Provide Detailed Forecasts And Warnings For Their Regions. The Nws Also Has Six Regional Headquarters (Rhs) That Coordinate And Oversee The Lfos. The Nws Headquarters (Hq) In Silver Spring, Maryland Provides National Guidance And Support For The Lfos And Rhs.

The Nws Is Part Of The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), Which Is An Agency Within The Department Of Commerce.

Hudson County

Hudson County Is A County In Northeastern New Jersey That Borders New York City Across The Hudson River. It Is The Smallest County By Land Area In New Jersey, But The Most Densely Populated. It Has A Population Of About 672,000 People As Of 2019. The County Seat Is Jersey City, Which Is Also The Largest City In The County And The Second-largest City In New Jersey.

Hudson County Is Part Of The New York Metropolitan Area And Has A Diverse Population With Many Ethnic Groups And Languages. It Is Also Home To Many Landmarks And Attractions, Such As Liberty State Park, Ellis Island, Liberty Science Center, Hoboken Terminal, Journal Square, And Metlife Stadium.

Hudson County Is Prone To Severe Weather Events Such As Thunderstorms, Hurricanes, Nor’easters, Blizzards, Heat Waves, And Floods. The County Has Experienced Several Major Disasters In Its History, Such As The Great Blizzard Of 1888, The Black Tom Explosion Of 1916, Hurricane Sandy Of 2012, And The Covid-19 Pandemic Of 2020.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

A Hazardous Weather Outlook Is A Product Issued By The National Weather Service That Describes Potential Hazardous Weather And Hydrologic Information Of Concern In Days 1 Through 7. The Outlook Contains Two Segments: One Segment For The Marine Zones And Adjacent Land-based (Coastal) Zones And The Other Segment For The Rest Of The Land-based Zones. Each Segment Of The Hwo Will Contain Three Sections: Short Term Through Day 1, Long Term For Days 2-7, And Spotter Information3.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook Is Not A Warning Or A Watch. It Is Intended To Provide Information About Possible Hazards That May Affect Public Safety Or Property. A Hazardous Weather Outlook May Include Information About Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Winter Weather, Fire Weather, Heat Waves, Coastal Hazards, Air Quality Issues, Or Any Other Weather-related Phenomena That Could Pose A Risk.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook Is Updated At Least Once A Day By Each Local Forecast Office Of The National Weather Service.

Ulster County

Ulster County Is A County In Southeastern New York That Lies West Of The Hudson River. It Has A Population Of About 177,000 People As Of 2019. The County Seat Is Kingston, Which Is Also The Largest City In The County.

Ulster County Is Part Of The Hudson Valley Region And Has A Rich History And Culture. It Was One Of The Original Counties Of New York Established In 1683 By English Colonists. It Was Also The Site Of Several Battles During The American Revolution And The War Of 1812. Ulster County Has Many Natural Features And Attractions, Such As Catskill Park, Shawangunk Ridge, Ashokan Reservoir, Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Preserve, And Woodstock.

Ulster County Is Subject To Various Types Of Severe Weather Events, Such As Thunderstorms, Hurricanes, Nor’easters, Blizzards, Ice Storms, Droughts, And Floods. The County Has Experienced Several Notable Disasters In Its History, Such As The Great Fire Of Kingston In 1777, The Blizzard Of 1888, The Flood Of 1955, Hurricane Irene In 2011, And Hurricane Sandy In 2012.

Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley Is A Geographic Region That Stretches Along Both Sides Of The Hudson River From Westchester County To Albany County In New York State. It Covers About 7 000 Square Miles And Has A Population Of About 3 Million People As Of 2019. The Hudson Valley Is Known For Its Scenic Beauty Historic Sites Cultural Diversity Agricultural Bounty And Artistic Creativity.

The Hudson Valley Has Played An Important Role In American History And Culture. It Was Inhabited By Native Americans For Thousands Of Years Before European Explorers Arrived In The Late 16th Century. It Was Colonized By Dutch Settlers In The Early 17th Century And Later By English Settlers Who Established New York As One Of The Original Colonies. It Was Also The Scene Of Many Battles During The American Revolution And The War Of 1812. The Hudson Valley Was Also The Birthplace Or Home Of Many Influential Figures Such As Henry Hudson Pete Seeger Franklin D. Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt Martin Van Buren Sojourner Truth Washington Irving Edgar Allan Poe Thomas Cole Frederic Church Rockwell Kent Norman Rockwell Jackson Pollock Mark Rothko Aaron Copland Woody Guthrie Bob Dylan And Many Others.

The Hudson Valley Is Subject To Various Types Of Severe Weather Events, Such As Thunderstorms, Hurricanes, Nor’easters, Blizzards, Ice Storms, Droughts, And Floods. Some Of The Most Devastating Disasters That Have Affected The Hudson Valley Include The Great Blizzard Of 1888, The Floods Of 1936 And 1955, Hurricane Agnes In 1972, Hurricane Gloria In 1985, Hurricane Floyd In 1999, Hurricane Irene In 2011, And Hurricane Sandy In 2012.

Lightning

Lightning Is An Electrical Discharge That Occurs Between Clouds Or Between Clouds And The Ground During A Thunderstorm. Lightning Can Produce Intense Heat And Sound And Can Cause Damage To Buildings Or Injury To Living Beings. Lightning Can Strike Anywhere Within 10 Miles Of A Thunderstorm Even If It Is Not Raining Or Cloudy.

Lightning Occurs When There Is An Imbalance Of Electric Charge Between Different Parts Of A Cloud Or Between A Cloud And The Ground. This Imbalance Creates An Electric Field That Causes Electrons To Move Rapidly From One Place To Another. When These Electrons Collide With Air Molecules They Create A Channel Of Ionized Air Called A Leader. The Leader Travels Downward From The Cloud In Steps Until It Reaches Close To The Ground. Then An Upward Streamer Of Positive Charge Rises From The Ground To Meet The Leader. When They Connect A Bright Flash Of Light Called A Return Stroke Occurs Along The Channel. This Is What We See As Lightning.

Lightning Can Have Different Shapes And Colors Depending On Where It Originates And Where It Strikes. Some Common Types Of Lightning Include:

Cloud-to-ground Lightning: This Is Lightning That Strikes Between A Cloud And The Ground. It Can Be Positive Or Negative Depending On Which Charge Moves Along The Channel. Positive Cloud-to-ground Lightning Originates From The Top Of A Cloud And Carries More Energy Than Negative Cloud-to-ground Lightning Which Originates From The Bottom Of A Cloud.

Cloud-to-cloud Lightning: This Is Lightning That Occurs Between Two Clouds Or Within One Cloud. It Can Be Intra-cloud Lightning Which Happens Within One Cloud Or Inter-cloud Lightning Which Happens Between Two Clouds.

Cloud-to-air Lightning: This Is Lightning That Occurs Between A Cloud And The Surrounding Air Without Striking Anything Else. It Can Be Seen As Bright Flashes Or Streaks Around A Cloud.

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