Weather Guide

From understanding how weather forms in Earth’s atmosphere to surviving extreme heat waves and record-breaking cold temperatures, everything you want to know about weather is in Weather Quide

Altostratus clouds

Altostratus Clouds: Formation, Characteristics and What They Reveal About the Weather

Altostratus clouds may not be as dramatic as towering thunderstorms or as visually spectacular as colorful sunsets, but they are among the most important cloud types for understanding changing weather…

Altocumulus Clouds: Formation, Characteristics and What They Reveal About the Weather

What Is a Supercell Thunderstorm?

Cirrostratus clouds

Cirrostratus Clouds: The Thin Veils That Signal Weather Changes

Cirrocumulus clouds

Cirrocumulus Clouds: The Rippled Patterns of the Upper Sky

Cirrus clouds

Cirrus Clouds: The Elegant Messengers of Changing Weather

Map showing La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean with cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures
Climate Science

What Is La Niña and How Does It Affect Global Weather?

Atmospheric Phenomena

Pileus Clouds: The Rare “Cap Clouds” That Crown Thunderstorms

Massive tornado beneath a rotating supercell thunderstorm over the Great Plains in the United States during severe weather outbreak.
Florida Tornadoes

The 5 U.S. States With the Most Tornadoes – America’s Most Dangerous Tornado Hotspots

Rare square waves forming a checkerboard ocean pattern during a dangerous cross sea phenomenon
Cross Sea

Square Waves: The Beautiful but Dangerous Ocean Phenomenon Explained

Deserts

What Are Dust Devils? Nature’s Spinning Desert Whirlwinds

Bow Echo

What Is a Derecho? The Massive Wind Storm That Can Resemble a Hurricane

Atmospheric Science

What Are Mammatus Clouds? Nature’s Most Mysterious Sky Formation

Catatumbo Lightning

What Is the Catatumbo Lightning Phenomenon in Venezuela?

Atmospheric Optics

What Is a Halo Around the Sun or Moon?

Ελ Νίνο
Climate

What Is El Niño and How Does It Affect Weather Around the World?

Atmospheric Optics

What Are Fire Rainbows? The Stunning Atmospheric Phenomenon Explained

Polar-vortex
Arctic Air

What Is the Polar Vortex and Why Does It Bring Extreme Cold?

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