The Eastern North Carolina Storm Chasers' Kids Corner

Kid’s Playground

Hey kids! This is just for you! Sorry, there’s no Barney, no Big Bird, or no Elmo. I have been called Oscar the Grouch a few times, but not the one on Sesame Street.

Quick Quiz



1. If you see lightning strike and then 8 seconds later you hear thunder, how far away did the lightning hit?

2. If a tornado passes over a body of water, like a river, lake, or ocean, what does it become?

3. How fast can the winds blow in a tornado? a)100mph b)150mph c)250mph d)over 300mph

4. If a Tornado Watch is placed in effect for your area, what should you do?

5. What are 2 of the things needed for a hurricane to form?

ANSWERS



1. If you hear the thunder 8 seconds after you saw the lightning, that means the lightning was about 1 ½ miles away. When you see lightning strike, count out loud til you hear the thunder. Every 5 seconds is 1 mile. Time to use your math skills!

2. The tornado becomes a waterspout. It’s still the same as a tornado, but now it’s over water.

3. D The winds in a tornado can blow over 300 miles per hour! In a tornado like that, it would be considered an F5, which is as bad as they get! An F5 would completely blow a brick house away and would scatter the pieces of the house for miles.

4. A Tornado Watch means that weather conditions are likely to produce some tornadoes. So have your parents listen to the TV or the radio for any changing conditions. A Torndado Warning means that a tornado has been spotted in YOUR area! You need to go to the storm shelter or your basement. And take a flashlight and a battery powered radio with you. If you don’t have a shelter or a basement, then you should go to a room in the middle of your house on the bottom floor, and one that doesn’t have windows. A closet, a bathroom, or even a center hallway will work. But take shelter!

5. There are many things that are necessary for a hurricane to form. First, you need a low pressure system. But not just ANY low pressure system will do. It has to be a warm low pressure system, and with a lot of moisture. This is called a Tropical Low. Then if conditions are right, a hurricane could form. The ocean water needs to be very warm, and the air needs to be very humid. And there will be little or no upper level winds blowing near it. This upper level winds could produce what is known as Upper Level Shear. Upper Level Shear would blow against the Tropical Low and tear it apart. It would keep any hurricanes from forming if it is strong enough.

This page is dedicated to Harmonie Hindall whose life was brought to an abrupt end at an early age. She brought light and joy into so many lives. Any understanding or educating I can do for kids thru this page should be done in her name. Harmonie, we all love you and miss you dearly. I know that you are in God’s arms now, and that one day I will get to see you again.

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