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What are the Types of Storm?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

A storm is a violent disturbance, and most references to storms have to do with weather effects dominated by strong winds. The main types include the hailstorm, ice storm, rainstorm, snowstorm, thunderstorm, windstorm, cyclone, hurricane, and tornado.

The first six types refer to violent winds accompanied by another feature. A hailstorm is weather system accompanied by a fall of hailstones, ice pellets that are larger than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) in diameter. Even though ice is involved in both, an ice storm is different. Precipitation in the form of snow or rain freezes on contact with whatever it lands on, forming a coating of ice on the surface.

Lightning during a storm.
Lightning during a storm.

A rainstorm is not just any fall of rain, but strong system characterized by strong winds and heavy rain. A snowstorm is windy weather during which there is a heavy snowfall. A blizzard is a particularly violent type of snowstorm, with wind speeds at or above 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) and visibility less than 0.25 miles (400 meters) for three hours.

A tornado appears as a funnel shape in the sky.
A tornado appears as a funnel shape in the sky.

A windstorm has either strong winds or strong gusts of wind, but very little or no rain. A dust storm is a particularly severe windstorm in which clouds of dust are swept across a large area. A violent windstorm with rain, snow, or hail, on the other hand, is called a tempest, while a violent but brief windstorm, which may be accompanied by precipitation of rain or snow, is called a squall.

A slick, snowy road after a snowstorm.
A slick, snowy road after a snowstorm.

A cyclone is a violent storm with rotating winds that move clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, but counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. A hurricane is a particularly severe cyclone — specifically, one originating near the equator and traveling more or less north, usually accompanied by heavy rains. A tornado is a whirling column of air with a funnel-shape. A waterspout refers to a tornado over the water. Although most tornadoes are cyclonic — meaning they rotate in the same directions as cyclones, depending on the hemisphere — anti-cyclonic tornadoes have been observed in the Northern Hemisphere, rotating clockwise.

Tropical storm viewed from space.
Tropical storm viewed from space.

Then, of course, there is the most infamous type of storm humans experience: the brainstorm. This may refer either to a violent disturbance of the mind that has a negative effect, or to the sudden advent of a clever idea or novel plan. In most cases, this "gust" of imagination is disconnected from previous thoughts, coming into the mind without warning and with unpredictable results. Although storms of this type can occur at any time and in any place, the shower and the driver's seat of cars seem to be two particularly likely spots.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main types of storms?

A violent windstorm accompanied by precipitation is referred to as a squall.
A violent windstorm accompanied by precipitation is referred to as a squall.

Storms are categorized by their nature and impact. The main types include thunderstorms, characterized by lightning and thunder; tornadoes, with their powerful rotating columns of air; hurricanes, which are large tropical storms with high winds; blizzards, featuring heavy snow and wind; ice storms, causing freezing rain; and hailstorms, where ice pellets fall from the sky. Each type has distinct meteorological features and potential hazards.

How do hurricanes differ from tornadoes?

A violent, brief windstorm accompanied by precipitation is called a squall.
A violent, brief windstorm accompanied by precipitation is called a squall.

Hurricanes and tornadoes differ primarily in size, location, and formation. Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and can span hundreds of miles, bringing sustained high winds, heavy rain, and storm surges. Tornadoes, on the other hand, are much smaller, rarely exceeding a mile in width, and form over land due to severe thunderstorms, producing intense, localized damage with their violently rotating columns of air.

What causes a thunderstorm to develop?

A large area is swept by clouds of dust in a dust storm.
A large area is swept by clouds of dust in a dust storm.

Thunderstorms develop when warm, moist air rises into the atmosphere, cools, and condenses to form cumulonimbus clouds. As the air continues to rise, it creates an updraft. The interaction between updrafts and downdrafts, along with the presence of water vapor, results in electrical charges that lead to lightning and thunder. These storms often bring heavy rain, strong winds, and sometimes hail.

What is the difference between a blizzard and a snowstorm?

Ice storms may cause excessive damage to an area.
Ice storms may cause excessive damage to an area.

A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds of at least 35 mph and lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically three hours or more. Visibility during a blizzard is reduced to less than a quarter-mile due to the blowing snow. A snowstorm, however, may not have such strong winds or low visibility but still involves a significant amount of snowfall.

Can ice storms cause more damage than heavy snowfall?

Yes, ice storms can cause more damage than heavy snowfall due to the accumulation of ice on surfaces. Ice can increase the weight of branches and power lines dramatically, leading to widespread damage and power outages. The National Weather Service notes that just a half-inch of ice accumulation can add 500 pounds of extra weight to power lines, making ice storms particularly hazardous.

What safety precautions should be taken during a hailstorm?

During a hailstorm, it is crucial to seek shelter immediately, preferably indoors. Stay away from windows, as hail can shatter glass. If you're driving, pull over and cover your head to protect yourself from possible broken glass. After the storm, check for damages, especially on your vehicle's windshield and roof, and report any injuries or significant damage to the appropriate authorities.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AllThingsNature about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AllThingsNature about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

cloudel

@seag47 – I also live in an area with mild winters, and I know what you mean about road crews not being well equipped to handle ice and snow. We had a big snowstorm that dumped eight inches on us in one day, and most of the businesses in our area had to shut down, because no one could drive to work!

They did put salt on the bridges and on some of the major highways, but all the people who live on county roads were out of luck. I missed two days of work, because my road was covered in icy puddles from the snow that had melted and froze again.

This storm was unlike anything I have ever seen. It was snowing so hard that by the time I wiped off my front windshield and started working on the back windshield, the front was coated in snow again!

seag47

I've only experienced one ice storm in my entire life, and I hope I never get to see another one. The effects were detrimental.

I live in the South, and we don't see much ice and snow down here. That means that our road crews are not very well prepared when a snowstorm or ice storm does threaten us.

The ice that fell one February coated all the trees and power lines, and many of them broke. We were without power for a week, and it was really cold in the house!

wavy58

I used to have a lot of anxiety during thunderstorms when I was younger. My mother made me feel better by taking me bowling.

We called it “storm bowling,” because the whole point was to drown out the thunder with the noise of the bowling balls. It really was hard to tell the difference in the bowling alley between the roar of the balls going down the lanes and crashing into the pins and the roar of thunder outside.

My mother also used to tell me that thunder was the sound of angels bowling. I only believed this when I was really young, and once I stopped buying it, she started taking me bowling to ease my anxiety.

OeKc05

I have never understood people who have the desire to go storm chasing. I have spent my life running away from storms and seeking shelter whenever there is even the slightest possibility of a tornado, but these people want to place themselves in the midst of these storms!

I admit that I have watched a few storm chaser videos before, and just watching someone that close to a tornado makes me sweat and panic. I want to yell at them to get out of there before it's too late!

han84

The United States is not the only area affected by tornadoes. Tornadoes can be found on every continent, except Antarctica.

Regions that are more likely to be affected by these fierce disturbances include Canada, southern portions of Brazil, South Africa, portions of Australia, Bangladesh, Europe, Japan and New Zealand.

The U.S. averages about 1200 tornadoes each year but the Netherlands has the highest average number per area of any other country, with more than 20 per square mile annually.

Tornadoes are actually most destructive in Bangladesh, killing an average of 179 people each year. These deaths are accounted for by the high population density, poor quality of construction and lack of tornado safety knowledge.

This raises the question; should there be a greater focus on teaching tornado safety in other countries to prevent unnecessary deaths from these storms?

hrquir

Tornado season in the United States is usually from the months of April through June. They do occur in all fifty states but are most frequent in Texas and Oklahoma -- portions of the United States commonly referred to as Tornado Alley.

The average tornado season claims the lives of approximately 90 people each year in the U.S. and is the most destructive of all the different storms. However, Massachusetts has the highest rate of death caused by tornadoes. This is probably because it has a higher population density than the Central Plain states. The highest death rate recorded in Massachusetts was in 1953 when a tornado struck and killed 94 people.

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    • Lightning during a storm.
      By: mackflix
      Lightning during a storm.
    • A tornado appears as a funnel shape in the sky.
      By: Minerva Studio
      A tornado appears as a funnel shape in the sky.
    • A slick, snowy road after a snowstorm.
      By: Petersen
      A slick, snowy road after a snowstorm.
    • Tropical storm viewed from space.
      Tropical storm viewed from space.
    • A violent windstorm accompanied by precipitation is referred to as a squall.
      By: snowmaker
      A violent windstorm accompanied by precipitation is referred to as a squall.
    • A violent, brief windstorm accompanied by precipitation is called a squall.
      By: Wirepec
      A violent, brief windstorm accompanied by precipitation is called a squall.
    • A large area is swept by clouds of dust in a dust storm.
      By: loya_ya
      A large area is swept by clouds of dust in a dust storm.
    • Ice storms may cause excessive damage to an area.
      By: Vera Kuttelvaserova
      Ice storms may cause excessive damage to an area.