What are the kinds of weather conditions?
There are many different types of weather conditions. Below you will find the different kinds of weather we experience daily due to the global weather system. We have also included some weird facts about the weather for kids!
What does weather mean?
Weather can be defined as the conditions of the earth’s atmosphere in a particular area. Climate refers to the average weather in a specific place over time.
Day-to-day weather changes can impact animals, their habitats, and people and their livelihoods. Severe weather can cause lots of destruction and disruption. Climate can change just like the weather, but unlike the weather, significant changes to the climate can take a long time.
What are the different types of weather conditions?
The different types of weather conditions are listed below.
Temperature
Temperature is how hot or cold the air outside is. Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. Temperature also tells us how fast air molecules and atoms are moving. If the atoms are moving fast, the temperature is high, but if they are moving slowly, it will be cold.
Humidity
Humidity refers to the collection of water vapor that is in the air. For example, topical regions are often described as high in moisture, whereas arid areas, like deserts, have low humidity. When in a warm and humid environment, it may feel sweltering to you, as high humidity can make it difficult for the body to regulate its temperature through sweating.
Precipitation
Precipitation refers to all the different types of water that fall to the ground. For example, rain, snow, sleet, ice, hail, and drizzle are all precipitation. The temperature of the air affects which type of precipitation falls. For example, if it is freezing at cloud level, water droplets will freeze and fall as hail or snow.
Wind
Wind can be defined as the movement of air near the earth’s surface. The wind is dictated by changes in water, land, and air temperature. When the sun warms the earth’s surface, the warm air rises. Because cool air weighs more than warm air, it moves under the warm air and into the space it once occupied. This movement is what causes the wind to blow.
Clouds
Clouds are assemblages of water droplets in the sky. As air rises, it begins to cool. Water vapor in the air then condenses, forming tiny water droplets in the atmosphere. These water droplets cling to dust particles in the air. A cloud is formed when billions of these suspended water droplets come together. There are four main types of clouds; these are called: cumulus, stratus, cirrus, and cumulonimbus.
Atmospheric pressure
Air has weight! Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the air pushing onto the earth’s surface. A high-pressure system results in cool temperatures and clear skies, and low-pressure systems create warmer weather, storms, and rain.
Different Types of Weather
There are many different types of weather for kids to learn about; some of these are:
Sunny
The weather is sunny when no clouds block the sunlight and the warm temperature. Sunny days are most common in Spring and Summer, but they can also happen in Autumn and Winter, but usually, they are less warm in these seasons. Sunny days are great for playing outside, going out, and enjoying the outdoors. They are also suitable for plants, as sunny days bring the heat and energy that plants need to survive. It is essential to wear suncream on sunny days to prevent sunburn, and when temperatures are high, it is necessary to drink lots of water and spend some time in the shade.
Cloudy
The weather is cloudy when many clouds in the sky get in the way of the sun. Cloudy days can be cold because there is not much sunlight, but they can also be warm if there is lots of humidity. Sometimes clouds can completely cover the sky; this is called overcast weather. Rain will often happen on cloudy days, but not always. Cloudy days are expected in Autumn and Winter but can also occur in Spring and Summer. Usually, cloudy days in the summer are warm, while cloudy days in the winter are frigid.
Rainy
Rainy weather happens when large clouds in the sky produce rain. Cloudy days can become rainy days if the clouds get large enough and there is a lot of precipitation. In some parts of the world, rainy days happen almost every day for weeks at a time, and in other regions, rainy days are rare. Rainy days are good because they provide water for plants. Therefore, wearing a waterproof coat or carrying an umbrella on rainy days is essential.
Snowy
Snowy days usually happen in winter, when precipitation falls as snow instead of rain. This occurs because the low temperatures cause the water in clouds to freeze and become snowflakes, which fall to the ground and pile up. Snowy days are often frigid, but they also allow lots of fun activities such as sledding, snowball fights, and snowman building. On snowy days it is best to dress in warm clothes, including a hat, gloves, and a scarf, when going outside.
Different types of severe weather:
There are six types of severe weather conditions. These different types of extreme weather are:
- Thunderstorms – cumulonimbus clouds produce thunderstorms! Thunderstorms include rain, hail, thunder, lightning, and strong winds. Thunderstorms can vary in severity.
- Tornadoes – tornadoes occur when warm air collides with cold air, creating a narrow and rotating column of air from a thunderstorm. Like thunderstorms, tornadoes can also vary in severity. We have a scale to measure the severity of tornadoes; this is called the Fujita scale.
- Hurricanes and typhoons – hurricanes and typhoons are also spiraling storms, but these are huge and long-lasting. They form over the water and can produce winds of 200 mph. The difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is the location, for example, storms from the north of the Pacific Ocean are called typhoons, but storms from the north of the Atlantic Ocean are called hurricanes.
- Winter storms – these storms occur in colder temperatures which causes rain to freeze and create snow and ice. A winter storm is when a large amount of snow has fallen.
- Blizzards – blizzards are a type of severe snowstorm that occur for a longer time. Blizzards also include dangerously low temperatures, strong winds, and lots of snow.
- Droughts–a drought is a long period without rain or precipitation. They can happen all around the world and can have devastating effects. Droughts can also cause forest fires and famine, lasting for months to years.
Weird facts about the weather
The weather can seem very mundane and boring. After all, it is constantly happening! For something more exciting, check out these weird facts about types of weather for kids to enjoy.
- A mudslide can be extremely powerful. They can move cars, trees, and even buildings when triggered by earthquakes or heavy rain.
- In Antarctica, there are often extremely heavy snowstorms. Sometimes the snow is so thick that you can’t even see your hand in front of your face.
- The wind itself is silent. It doesn’t make any sound until it blows against an object.
- Around 100 lightning bolts strike the Earth every second. Talk about electrifying!
- Snowflakes can take up to an hour to reach the ground. In addition, they often travel at 2mph, which is relatively slow.
- British people have a well-deserved reputation for small talk about the weather. A survey found that 9 out of 10 British people had talked about the weather in the six hours before taking the survey.
- The world’s most giant snowflake was 38cm wide and 20cm thick. It was measured in 1887 in Montana, USA.
- Sometimes, water creatures can fall with the rain. This can happen when waterspouts – rotating columns of air over the water – pick them up from the water and drop them again.
- Aristotle is the father of meteorology! The ancient philosopher wrote a book about weather. In it, he wrote about the water cycle, among other things.
- Sometimes snow can be pink. In Colorado and the Sierra Nevada mountains, snow is sometimes pink. The pink color is caused by algae which live in cold climates and turn the wintry countryside pink.
- Texas is the American state with the highest number of tornadoes per year – up to 110.
- Snow can fall in scorching places. You might not expect snow in the Sahara Desert or Hawaii, but occasionally it can happen.
- You can use pine cones to predict the weather! For example, the scales close up when it is about to rain. Try putting one on your windowsill to help you decide whether you need an umbrella.
