It is now time for our weekly weather trivia, fun and interesting facts for your enjoyment….
Today I am giving you a test to check what you have learned over the time this site has been online – the answers and grading are at the end of the quiz – no peaking!
1) Which is safest during a tornado?
a) Inside a car
b) Under an overpass
c) In a ditch
d) Under a tree
2) Which kills more people every year?
a) Lightning
b) Floods
c) Tornadoes
d) Hurricanes
3) Which type of cloud is highest in the atmosphere?
a) Cirrus
b) Altostratus
c) Cumulus
d) Nimbostratus
4) Which type of cloud is most likely to produce rain?
a) Cirrus
b) Altocumulus
c) Cirrostratus
d) Cumulus
5) Which type of cloud produces lightning?
a) Altostratus
b) Cumulonimbus
c) Cirrocumulus
d) Nimbus
6) Which time of day is the best for tornado development?
a) 6:00am – 10:00am
b) 8:00pm – midnight
c) 3:00pm – 6:00pm
d) Noon – 4:00pm
7) True or false: Tornadoes do not form in temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
8) True or false: A tornado that forms over water is called a Waterdevil.
9) True or false: Cold air is heavier than warm air.
10) For golf-ball sized hail, a storms updraft must be:
a) 70 mph
b) 20 mph
c) 50 mph
d) Does not need an updraft.
Answers: C; B; A; D; B; C; False; False; True; A
9 or 10 right – You must be a meteorologist!
7 or 8 right – You know your stuff!
5 or 6 right – Not bad, keep learning!
3 or 4 right – Don’t quit your day job!
Less than 3 – Well, anyway…
Now for this weeks historical weather trivia:
Oct 13, 1846
A great hurricane tracked across Cuba, Florida, Georgia, the
Carolinas, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The hurricane inflicted
major damage along its entire path, which was similar to the
path of Hurricane Hazel 108 years later. The hurricane caused
great damage at Key West FL, and at Philadelphia PA it was the
most destructive storm in thirty years.
Oct 14, 1984
Dense fog contributed to a 118 vehicle accident on Interstate 94,
just south of Milwaukee WI. It was the seventh day of an eight
day stretch of dense fog. At the time of the accident the visibility
was reportedly close to zero.
Oct 15, 1954
Hurricane Hazel struck the Carolina coastline. The hurricane
demolished every pier along a 170 mile stretch from Myrtle Beach
South Carolina to Cedar Island North Carolina, and obliterated
entire lines of beach homes. Hurricane Hazel also destroyed 1500
homes as it moved inland with seventeen foot tides. Winds between
Myrtle Beach South Carolina and Cape Fear North Carolina gusted to
150 mph. Hurricane Hazel caused 163 million dollars damage, and
claimed the lives of 98 persons.
Oct 16, 1980
A house was destroyed, and three other homes and a trailer were
damaged during a brief tornado touchdown at Munjor KS.
IN 1998…A tornado that began in eastern Trego county, steadily
moved northeast before dissipating north of Hays. The tornado hit
several farms in rural Ellis county and slammed into sparsely
populated Yocemento. After leaving Yocemento, the tornado tore
through a feed yard and on across other parts of rural Ellis
county. Fortunately, the tornado stayed just west and north of
populated Hays where a high school football game was in progress.
The tornado damaged or destroyed 10 homes, a grain elevator, many
outbuildings, a tractor and a feedlot. During the weaker moments
of the tornado, it moved a 14,000 pound tractor 30 yards. One
modular constructed home on a concrete slab was completely
destroyed with the remains carried one half of a mile. A steel I beam
from a concrete building traveled several hundred yards,
eventually crashing into a grain elevator. Three empty anhydrous
ammonia tanks were moved causing a leak of a benign amount of
vapor. An injury occurred to a male driving a tractor trailer
rig on interstate 70.
Oct 17, 1781
General Cornwallis attempted to escape encirclement by crossing York
River, “but a violent storm arose” dispersing his boats causing him
to ask for an armistice.
IN 2016…The high of 101 degrees established the record high for the
month of October at Dodge City.
Oct 18, 1906
A hurricane struck South Florida drowning 124 persons stranded in
the Florida Keys.
Oct 19, 1844
The famous Lower Great Lakes Storm occurred. Southwesterly
winds were at hurricane force for five hours, driving lake waters
into downtown Buffalo New York. The storm drowned 200 persons.
The U.P. and northern counties have already had their hard frost thus no frost warnings were in effect for these areas. Most of lower Michigan has frost and freeze headlines which will expire at 8am. At 6am we have 33° in Otsego, 34° in downtown Grand Rapids, 35° in Kalamazoo and 32° in Lansing.
We can expect temps to warm up to near to slightly above normal through Monday with plenty of sunshine before the next system comes through next Tuesday and the temps crash one again.
9/10…lightning vs floods. It appears our trees/season are too far out of sync for overwhelming color this year. “Catastrophic” remains the forecast definition for winter this year. Best of luck to all…finding a way through record cold/snow.
Excellent!
Good trivia game. Got them all except #2. I thought lightening killed more people.
I got 9 out of 10. Not too shabby for an amateur.
Low of 33° here this morning. No freeze yet here. This weekend will be very nice.
Bottomed our at 33 here so still no freeze yet. Looks like Holland’s low was 1 degree warmer at 34.
Lets give the furnace a rest this weekend sounds good to me .. Running wiled in October already before temps crash again …..How’s that sound Slim? Have a good Friday….INDY
Here is the latest fall color report
2019
https://www.foliagenetwork.com/index.php/foliage-reports/foliage-reports-northeast-us/foliage-reports-northeast-us-archive/foliage-reports-northeast-us-archive-2017/129-foliage-reports/foliage-reports-midwest-us/foliage-reports-midwest-us-current-season/902-mw-foliage-report-12-2019
and for comparisons last year
https://www.foliagenetwork.com/index.php/foliage-reports/foliage-reports-midwest-us/175-foliage-reports/foliage-reports-midwest-us/foliage-reports-midwest-us-archive/foliage-reports-midwest-us-archive-2018/843-mw-foliage-report-13-2018
Slim
Wow we are still behind last year’s late fall colors!
Lot better looking then last year full peak nothern Kent and Newaygo Montcalm take a ride breathtaking views dont miss out coming to end very soon…INDY
I had my first freeze of the season this morning with a low of 30° and there was ice in the bird bath. The official low at GRR was 32 so once again it was warmer at the airport then here at my house. The H/L at Grand Rapids yesterday was 51/40. For today the average H/L at Grand Rapids is 60/41. The record high was 84 set in 1950 and the record low is a cold 19 set in 1976.
Slim
low here was 31
29* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR our second hard freeze in over a week …INDY
GR is still above average temps for October with another warm front on the way. I love it! Looks like the perfect weekend.