Major Severe Weather Types: Hazards & Impacts

Understanding severe weather categories helps preparedness:

🌪️ Tornadoes

• Rotating column from thunderstorm to ground
• EF0–EF5 scale (wind damage)
• Peak: Spring, "Tornado Alley" (US), but global
• Minutes of warning; shelter in interior/basement

🌀 Hurricanes / Typhoons / Cyclones

• Tropical cyclones ≥74 mph; warm ocean fuel
• Hazards: wind, storm surge, rain/flooding, tornadoes
• Categories 1–5 (Saffir-Simpson)
• Days of tracking; evacuate if ordered

❄️ Blizzards

• Snow + ≥35 mph winds + visibility <¼ mile ≥3 hrs
• Whiteouts, drifts, power loss, cold exposure
• Prep: supplies, heat backup, avoid travel

🌵 Droughts

• Prolonged precipitation deficit
• Slow-onset; impacts: crops, water supply, fire risk, economy
• Monitor: U.S. Drought Monitor, SPI indices

🔥 Wildfires

• Uncontrolled combustion in wildlands
• Drivers: drought, wind, heat, fuel load, ignition
• Hazards: smoke (PM2.5), property loss, erosion, CO2
• WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) = highest risk

📊 Preparedness

• NOAA Weather Radio / Wireless Emergency Alerts
• Family plan, go-bag, insurance review
• Community resilience: building codes, defensible space, mutual aid