Mental Floss

WEATHER

A snowstorm hits New York.

What Is Thundersnow?

Aside from awesome, that is.

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It Just Snowed In the Sahara for the Second Time In Less Than a Month

The town of Aïn Séfra, Algeria is digging out from a freak snowstorm and battling sub-zero temperatures.

Vasily Maximov, AFP/Getty Images

Record-Breaking 17 Inches of Snow Covers Moscow in 24 Hours

It's been dubbed the "snowfall of the century."

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What the World Would Look Like If It Never Stopped Raining

Thanks to global warming, heavy downpours are on the rise.

Svetlana Ivanova, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

What It's Like to Live in Yakutsk, Siberia, the Coldest City on Earth

Temperatures occupy -40°F territory all winter.

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Interactive Chart Tells You How Long It Takes to Get Frostbite

It's not as hard to catch as you may think.

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Flurry Road: 5 Tips for Safe Driving on Winter Roads

A driving expert gives us the scoop on staying safe in inclement weather.

Henrik Djärv, Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0

It's So Cold In One Part of Russia That People's Eyelashes Are Freezing

The temperature dropped to -88.6°F—cold enough to break thermometers.

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The Simple Way to Protect Your Dog From Dangerous Rock Salt

De-icing chemicals can cause more damage than you might expect.

nicoletaionescu/iStock via Getty Images

11 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of TV Meteorologists

There's a lot to learn about green screens, wardrobes, and staying warm during a snowstorm. But most importantly, don't rely on those seven-day forecasts.

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6 Tips From Travel Experts for Packing Winter Clothes

Follow this advice before breaking out a second suitcase.

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It Just Snowed In the Sahara Desert

Contrary to popular belief, the world's largest hot desert isn't always scorching.

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Watch These Surfers Crush Nantucket's 'Slurpee' Waves

Totally tubular.

It’s dangerous to walk your dog when it’s too cold outside.

Handy Chart Tells You When It’s Too Cold to Walk Your Dog

Dogs have built-in fur coats, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get chilly during their winter walks.

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How You Can Help Pay the Heating Bills for a Family in Need

There are several programs helping families stay warm this winter.

Timothy A. Clary, Getty Images

What to Expect From the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Set to Pummel the East Coast

Meteorologists are expecting dense snowfall and hurricane-level winds.

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12 Places That Rarely See Snow

If a winter season completely devoid of snow sounds like your idea of heaven, these 12 places are calling your name.

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Erie, Pennsylvania Just Got Buried in 53 Inches of Snow in 30 Hours

Erie residents dreaming of a white Christmas got more than they bargained for this year.

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Alaska Got 15 Inches of Snow in 90 Minutes Last Week

It was one of the most intense snowfalls in modern history.

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What’s Really Happening When You "Smell" Snow

The sensation is real, but it doesn't have to do with odor.

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The Getty Center, Surrounded By Wildfires, Will Leave Its Art Where It Is

The famed museum had to close its doors, which is part of what will protect the priceless art inside the building.

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Can It Ever Be Too Cold to Snow?

It sounds like nonsense … but is it?

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What Causes Turbulence?

It's a lot less scary than it feels.

Darren McCollester, Stringer, Getty Images

How One New York Town Is Preparing for the Next Hurricane Sandy

Rather than resisting the ocean, they're taking advantage of its resources.