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Extreme weather

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Beautiful white cumulus clouds floating in a clear blue sky.

What is Extreme Weather?

Extreme weather are special weather events that are very different from what we usually see in a place. These can be very hot or very cold temperatures, heavy rains, or powerful storms. They happen when the weather behaves in unusual ways.

Types of Extreme Weather

Some common types of extreme weather include heat waves, which are long periods of very hot weather, and cold waves, which are sudden drops in temperature. Droughts happen when there is very little rain for a long time. Heavy rain and big storms, like tropical cyclones, can cause floods and landslides. Imagine a big, swirling storm cloud—that’s what a tornado looks like!

Why Do We Hear About Extreme Weather?

People notice extreme weather because it can affect our daily lives. It can change how we plan our days, where we build houses, and how we take care of plants and animals. Scientists study these events to help us prepare and stay safe. By understanding extreme weather, we can find ways to protect our homes and nature.

Images

A map showing how much hotter Europe was during the summer of 2003 compared to earlier years, as measured by a NASA satellite.
Map showing temperature changes across Northern America from December 3 to December 10, 2013. Blue areas were colder than average, and red areas were warmer.
A graph showing how strong and frequent hurricanes have been in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1949 to 2015, helping us understand climate patterns.
Aerial view showing the effects of drought on a reservoir in California.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Extreme weather, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.