WEATHER

Three tornadoes on the ground at the same time near Dodge City, Kansas, on May 24, 2016.

12 Powerful Facts About Tornadoes

A 2011 tornado threw a 36-ton railcar 400 feet. Here's what you need to know about these super-powered storms.

Your state has probably seen some unbelievable weather.

Hot and Cold: The All-Time Highest (and Lowest) Recorded Temperatures in Each State

California once hit -45°F degrees.

5 Fast Facts About the Spring Equinox

Here's what you should know about this year's spring equinox, including whether you can balance an egg during the event.

6 Severe Weather Terms to Know Ahead of Spring Storms

Knowing the difference between these common terms can bolster your safety in severe weather.

Here's Why Snow Removal Is Such a Hard Problem to Solve

Nearly every snow removal method has its drawbacks.

You should always keep an ice scraper in your car during winter.

The Right Way to Use an Ice Scraper on Your Car

This winter, take advantage of a feature on your ice scraper you may be ignoring.

Snowfall vs. Snow Depth: What’s the Difference?

We dig into this winter puzzler.

This person doesn't know about the onion thing.

Frost on Your Car’s Windshield? An Onion Can Prevent It

Icy windshields can delay your trip, but not if you have an onion handy.

32 Forgotten Weather Words

Whether you're enjoying a bout of sunshine, enduring a sudden downpour, or suffering through a drought, the obscure corners of English have the word for you.

Seventeen inches of lake-effect snow fell in Chicago in 2021.

What is Lake-Effect Snow?

Requiring a sufficiently large lake is only the first step in creating the monstrous blizzards known as lake-effect snow.

The gender binary looms large in this sphere.

The Sexist History of Naming Hurricanes After Women Only—And How 1970s Feminists Fought to End It

“I’m sick and tired of hearing that ‘Cheryl was no lady as she devastated such and such a town,’” Roxcy Bolton said. She wasn't alone in her exasperation.

You know things are bad if Waffle House starts closing.

How Waffle House Helps Measure the Severity of a Natural Disaster

Waffle House can help first responders assess conditions in areas battered by storms—and serve them breakfast.

Category 4 Hurricane Harvey decimated Houston in 2017.

How Are Hurricane Categories Determined?

In order to assign a numeric category value to a hurricane, meteorologists look to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

An electricity-less San Juan, Puerto Rico, post–Hurricane Fiona.

5 Organizations Helping Victims of Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico

Just five years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is again largely without power or clean water. Here’s how to help.

It's not everywhere that you can walk on a lake—but you can in Alaska.

The 20 Coldest States in the U.S.

If snow sports and curling up with a good book and steaming mug of tea are your favorite activities, you might want to consider moving to one of America's chilliest states.

What Causes a Heat Wave?

The conditions for stifling heat are pretty easy to explain, and so is the solution: Keep cool.

An aerial shot of downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

The 25 Sunniest Cities in the U.S.

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, don’t underestimate the importance of sunlight.

15 Amazing Facts About "The Year Without a Summer"

Few volcanoes had had such a dramatic and devastating impact on the world as Indonesia's Mount Tambora.

Why Does Humidity Make Us Feel Hotter?

Is it really not the heat, but the humidity? With temperatures spiking around the world, it's a good time to answer some questions about the heat index.

Catatumbo lightning over Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela

9 Dazzling Facts about the Catatumbo Lightning, Venezuela’s Constant Electrical Storm

One place in Venezuela, near the confluence of the Catatumbo River and Lake Maracaibo, experiences lightning storms almost every day.

10 Things That Have 'Rained' From the Sky

We’re all familiar with the phrase “raining cats and dogs,” but what about fish and frogs and raw meat?

Why Are Desert Sunsets So Colorful?

If you've ever watched the sun set in the desert, you may have noticed more spectacular colors than you're used to. There's a good reason for that.

'Significant Solar Flare' Could Make the Northern Lights Visible in the Contiguous U.S. Tonight

A strong geomagnetic storm is forecast for March 31, and the northern lights could be visible in parts of the lower 48 states as a result.

U.S. biathlete Jake Brown at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Why Do Olympic Skiers Wear Tape on Their Faces?

It’s kinesiology tape, usually used to relieve muscle pain. But Olympic athletes co-opted it for another purpose.

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