One of the primary missions of the American Red Cross is not only responding to disasters, but helping people to prepare for them. This is done so that loss of life, injury, or property damage can be avoided, or at least minimized.

Thunderstorms affect relatively small areas when compared with hurricanes and winter storms. The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes. Nearly 1,800 thunderstorms are occurring at any moment around the world. That's 16 million a year!

Despite their small size, all thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes. Heavy rain can lead to flash flooding. Strong winds, hail, and tornadoes are also dangers associated with some thunderstorms.

Of the estimated 100,000 thunderstorms that occur each year in the United States, only about 10 percent are classified as severe.

Take the following quiz to see how much you know about Thunderstorms and Lightning! All of the answers to the questions are located in the American Red Cross booklet (ARC 5001) Thunderstorms & Lightning that may be obtained at our office free of charge. They are also located on the answer page.

1. A thunderstorm is classified as severe when the following are present:
1. Hail at least % inch in diameter or greater .
2. Wind 58 mph or greater.
3. Tornadoes
4. All of the above.
2. Lightning occurs:
1. Only in low precipitation thunderstorms.
2. Only in severe thunderstorms.
3. In all thunderstorms.
4. Only in thunderstorms that occur during the summer.
3. Flash flooding is:
1. Is the number one thunderstorm killer.
2. Only occurs in thunderstorms with tornadoes.
3. Only occurs with severe thunderstorms.
4. Is only a weather concern in the southern United States.

 

4. Straight-line winds from a thunderstorm are or can:
1. Responsible for most thunderstorm wind damage.
2. Can exceed 100 mph!
3. Often cause damage erroneously attributed to tornadoes.
4. All of the above.
5. Large hail from thunderstorms:
1. Causes nearly $1 billion in damage to property and crops annually.
2. Occurs only in the Midwest and Southern States.
3. Occurs only in the spring and summer seasons.
4. Indicates that there is no chance of a tornado forming.
6. The state that has the most thunderstorms in the United States is:
1. Illinois
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Alaska
7. In order for thunderstorms to form, they need:
1. Moisture.
2. Unstable Air.
3. Lift.
4. All of the above.
8. "Heat" lightning is caused by:
1. Intense heat during summer days.
2. Intense heat during summer nights.
3. Thunderstorms that are too far away for thunder to be heard.
4. None of the above.
9. A cloud to ground lightning strike travels from:
1. Cloud to ground only.
2. Ground to cloud only.
3. None of the above.
4. Both ways.
10. Watches and Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service for:
1. Tornadoes only.
2. Tornadoes and thunderstorms only.
3. Tornadoes, thunderstorms, flash floods, and winter storms.
4. None of the above.

ANSWERS TO QUIZ:

1. D. A thunderstorm is classified as severe if it has any of these characteristics present.

2. C. Thunder cannot be produced without lightning.

3. A. Even though it often doesn't get as much attention as tornadoes, it is by far the most common hazard of thunderstorms.

4. D. In the spring and summer, clusters of thunderstorms can produce sustained straight-line winds that can cause millions of dollars of damage over a wide area, sometimes greater than what would be caused by a tornado. The most recent example was the damage in the hundreds of thousands of dollars caused by straight-line winds out of a thunderstorm that hit the Alton area on June 14,1998.

5. A. Hail is often the most destructive element (at least in $) of severe thunderstorms. In fact, hail ranks as the most costly weather event of the century outside of drought in the United States.

6. B. Probably because Florida gets so much moisture from the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the prevailing winds, which then rises as it makes landfall on the west coast of that state.

7. D.

8. C. Some people have a hard time believing this, because it seems to be a long-time "folk" belief. However, if anyone questions you, have them go to their television (if they have cable), or get on-line, and look at the nearest Weather Service radar. Because of atmospheric conditions in the summertime, lightning can often be reflected 50 miles or more from where the thunderstorm is actually occurring.

9. D. Lightning is the result of a negative electrical charge building down from the thunderstorm attracting a positive charge from the ground. When the two meet, lightning results! Although this ground charge is not usually visible, it is sometimes visible in photos people have taken of lightning, particularly at night.

10. C.