Severe Weather Warning Quiz! Trivia

Thunderstorms are not affected by sound. Thunder is actually the sound produced by lightning, which is caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air surrounding the lightning bolt. Thunderstorms are primarily influenced by atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, and wind patterns. Sound does not have any direct impact on the formation or behavior of thunderstorms. Therefore, the statement is false.

Quarter size hail is considered a severe threat because it can cause significant damage to property, vehicles, and even pose a danger to people. Hail of this size, which is approximately 1 inch in diameter, can dent cars, break windows, and damage roofs. It can also cause injuries if someone is caught outside during a hailstorm. Therefore, it is important to take precautions and seek shelter when quarter size hail is expected.

A severe thunderstorm is characterized by strong winds, often exceeding 58 miles per hour (MPH). These high-speed winds can cause significant damage to structures, trees, and power lines. While penny-sized hail, a funnel cloud, and a wall cloud are associated with thunderstorms, they do not necessarily indicate the severity of the storm. Therefore, the most appropriate option that identifies a severe thunderstorm is 59 MPH thunderstorm winds.

Supercell thunderstorms are responsible for the majority of tornadoes. These storms have a rotating updraft, known as a mesocyclone, which creates an environment conducive for tornado formation. Supercells can last for several hours and are characterized by strong updrafts and downdrafts. The rotation within the storm helps to sustain and intensify the tornado, making it more long-lived and destructive compared to tornadoes generated by other types of thunderstorms.

The correct answer is flash flood. Flash floods are the most dangerous type of thunderstorm hazard because they can occur suddenly and without warning. These floods are characterized by a rapid rise of water in a short period of time, often resulting in swift and powerful currents that can sweep away vehicles, buildings, and people. Flash floods are responsible for numerous fatalities and significant property damage each year.

Warm fronts do not typically cause severe weather outbreaks. Instead, they are associated with more gradual and steady precipitation. Severe weather outbreaks are typically associated with cold fronts, which bring more unstable and rapidly changing weather conditions. Therefore, the statement is false.

A "Local Low on CC 0.5" is a tornado detection on radar. CC stands for Correlation Coefficient, which measures the similarity between the radar returns from different parts of a storm. A local low on CC 0.5 indicates a significant drop in correlation in a small area within the storm, which can be indicative of a tornado. This is because a tornado often contains debris or precipitation with different characteristics than the surrounding air, causing a drop in correlation. Therefore, this radar feature is commonly used to identify tornadoes.

When lightning strikes, the light travels at the speed of light which is approximately 186,282 miles per second. However, sound travels much slower at around 1,125 feet per second. Since it takes 10 seconds for the sound of thunder to reach us after the lightning, we can calculate the distance by multiplying the speed of sound by the time it takes. Therefore, 1,125 feet per second multiplied by 10 seconds equals 11,250 feet, which is approximately equal to 2 miles. Therefore, the lightning strike is estimated to be 2 miles away.

A funnel cloud is not necessarily a severe threat. While funnel clouds are associated with severe weather phenomena such as tornadoes, not all funnel clouds develop into tornadoes and pose a direct threat to people and property. Therefore, the statement that a funnel cloud is always a severe threat is false.

The Storm Prediction Center is the correct answer because it is an organization that specifically focuses on monitoring and predicting severe weather conditions such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hailstorms. The National Weather Service also plays a role in weather monitoring, but it is a broader agency responsible for providing weather forecasts and warnings across the United States. Fox News is a news network that covers a wide range of topics, including weather, but it is not dedicated solely to weather monitoring. HPC stands for the High-Performance Computing and is not directly related to weather monitoring.

Hail Quarter Sized is severe because it refers to hailstones that are approximately the size of a quarter, which can cause significant damage to property and pose a threat to people and animals. Tornadoes are also severe as they are violent rotating columns of air that can cause widespread destruction and pose a significant risk to life and property.