Severe Weather

A tornado over water is called a water spout.

Thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes are very different types of storms, but each one results from the rising of warm, moist air in a low pressure system. Hurricanes form over warm, tropical waters, while tornadoes form when warm, moist air mixes with cold, dry air. Tornadoes are often associated with supercell thunderstorms. Thunderstorms form as warm, moist air rises and cools, condensing into cumulus clouds. This process generally happens at the boundaries of colliding air masses, called fronts. Severe weather systems can cause a great deal of damage in a short amount of time. It is important for meteorologists to learn about how and why these storms form in order to improve public safety during storm events.