March 15, 2021

Weather Trivia and Facts That Will Come in Handy

The weather is something we notice every single day. We look outside the window before heading outside. We look at the weather apps on our mobile phones to check the temperature and the forecast for the day. But if you’ve ever been curious to dig a little deeper on some trivial weather facts, you’re in the right place. We’ll talk through some facts that you just may be quizzed on during your next online trivia game via Zoom, or virtual happy hour quiz. Ready? Let’s go!

What Exactly is a Hurricane?

You’ve probably seen the colorful swirls appear on weather maps in the tropical areas of the world, these are how hurricanes are depicted by the technology that powers the meteorological maps. The technical definition of a hurricane is a tropical storm originating in the Atlantic ocean basin that has sustained winds of over 74 mph.

What’s the Difference Between a Hurricane, Typhoon and Cyclone?

Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are essentially the same thing but the categorization of the storm is dependent on where it occurs. Our chart below details the naming conventions.

Hurricane

Typhoon

Tropical Cyclone

Region

North Atlantic

Central North Pacific

Eastern North Pacific

Northwest Pacific Ocean

South Pacific

Indian Ocean

Peak Season

May 15 - November 30

June - December

September - June

What’s the Size of the Largest Recorded Hailstone That Fell in the United States?

An 8” hailstone that fell in South Dakota holds the record for the largest hailstone.

When is Needed for a Snow Storm to be Known as a Blizzard?

For a snow storm to be labeled as a blizzard it has to meet the following criteria for 3 or more hours:

Heavy volumes of snow and/or blowing snow
Winds of 35 mph or more
Visibility that is less than a quarter mile

What is Meant by a Lake Effect Snow Storm?

These storms occur in the areas surrounding the Great Lakes when winds pass over the lakes from north to south and pick up moisture in the air along the way. The moisture comes back down to the ground on the south side of the lakes in the form of snow, which can be incredibly heavy and debilitating for the communities.

What’s the Difference Between a Funnel Cloud and a Tornado?

A funnel cloud is swirling air that forms a tight column, it never touches the ground. A funnel cloud will often precede a tornado, when it touches down, it becomes a tornado.

How are Tornadoes Measured?

The strength of a tornado is measured on something known as an Enhanced Fujita Scale (or EF Scale). The numerical measurement is given based on the wind speed and damage that can be caused by the tornado.

EF Number	Wind Speed
EF-0	65 - 85 mph light damage
EF-1	86 - 100 mph moderate damage
EF-2	111-135 mph considerate damage
EF-3	136 - 165 mph severe damage
EF-4	166 - 200 mph devastating damage
EF-5	201+ mph incredible damage

Four Random Facts About Lightning

A lightning bolt travels at a speed of 270,000 mph
Despite the myth, lightning really can strike the same place twice, or even multiple times
The length of a lightning bolt has been calculated to be up to 90 miles long
The temperature of a bolt of lightning can reach 30,000 °C, which is hotter than the Sun’s surface

What US State Gets the Most Annual Rainfall?

The tropical state of Hawaii receives an average of 63.7 inches of rain a year. In the Continental US, Louisiana holds the crown for receiving the most rain per year averaging about 50 inches per year.

What’s the Coldest Recorded Temperature?

A temperature of -135.8 degrees was recorded in Antarctica in 2010. Brrrr.

What’s the Hottest Recorded Temperature?

The hottest temperature ever recorded is 134 degrees in Death Valley in 1913. However this temperature is disputed as scientists who have analyzed the weather and climate claim it’s impossible that the temperature could have gotten that high.

What’s the Difference Between Meteorology and Climatology?

Meteorology is the study of weather events that are short term usually less than a couple of weeks. Climatology is the study weather trends and frequency of weather events over a longer duration of time, oftentimes many years.

Now that you’ve brushed up on random weather trivia facts, you may just be ready for your next virtual trivia night. You can host a trivia game with a group of friends who are in a variety of locations by layering in a conference platform like Zoom or Skype to keep the crew connected.