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Weather

TFK Library

What Are Storms?

August 16, 2018

A storm is a powerful disturbance of the atmosphere. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes are types of storms. Storms are a common event here on Earth. They occur on other planets, too. There are about 16 million thunderstorms worldwide each year.…

Video

United States

Fires Rage in California

June 27, 2018

On Tuesday, wildfires continued to spread through a rural area of Northern California. The area is still recovering from last year’s devastating fires. The Pawnee Fire is the biggest blaze. It began on Saturday evening. So far, it has destroyed…

Environment

California Mudslides

January 19, 2018

Mudslides and flash floods destroyed parts of Montecito, California, last week. At press time, the natural disaster had caused at least 20 deaths. The mudslides were caused by a powerful storm. It sent mud and boulders down hills and into…

Environment

Disaster's Cost

January 16, 2018

Monster hurricanes. Raging wildfires. They helped make 2017 the costliest year ever for weather disasters in the United States. The nation was hit by 16 disasters that each topped $1 billion in damages. The 
total cost was $306 billion, according…

United States

Record-Shattering Cold Weather Grips the U.S.

January 8, 2018

The New Year has brought freezing-cold weather to much of the United States, setting record lows in parts of the Midwest and East. “You thought you were cold last year,” said Jeanne Rivera, of Illinois. “But you weren’t cold. Now…

United States

California Fires

October 20, 2017

A state of emergency was declared in California last week. More than a dozen wildfires broke out in the state. Most of them began on October 8, in Northern California. They grew rapidly. The fires were fueled by winds of…

United States

Puerto Rico's Plea

October 5, 2017

Puerto Rico is trying to recover from Hurricane Maria. The storm struck the U.S. territory on September 20. The Category 4 hurricane knocked down trees and destroyed homes. It also killed at least 16 people. The entire island has been…

Video

Science

Into the Eye

October 3, 2017

Whipping wind and pounding rain take hold of the aircraft. Stomachs drop. The radar screen goes fuzzy. This would frighten most people. But flight director Jessica Williams remains focused. Williams is a hurricane hunter. She works for the National Oceanic…

Video

World

Mexico's Quake

September 28, 2017

Sections of Mexico City and nearby areas were left in ruins after an earthquake. The quake had a magnitude of 7.1. It struck Mexico on September 19. Buildings collapsed, and homes were destroyed. Thousands were injured. At press time, it…

World

Irma's Wrath

September 20, 2017

Millions of people are recovering from Hurricane Irma. The storm slammed several Caribbean islands. It also hit the southern coast of the U.S. Irma made landfall on the island of Barbuda on September 6. Then it moved north and west. …