Weather Glossary and Terms

Here are some terms that are important for learning all about weather!

  • Advisory-A forecast that the National Weather Center shows that brings caution to the weather.
  • Air-A mixture in the atmosphere of gases.
  • Air pollution-When chemicals are in the air and they cause the air to be dirty.
  • Alberta Clipper-A low air pressure that is fast and causes winter to go through Alberta Canada.
  • Almanac-A calendar that helps to predict the weather.
  • Alto-When a cloud is found in the middle area of the atmosphere, alto is added to the name.
  • Anemometer-Anemometer is a way for scientists to measure the speed of wind.
  • Anticyclone-When high pressured air moves counterclockwise.  This normally means the sky will be sunny.
  • Autumn-A season when the leaves of the trees begin to turn colors.
  • Avalanche-When snow or ice fall down a mountain.
  • Barometer-A barometer helps to study the different pressures that are happening in the atmosphere.
  • Barometric pressure-The same word for air pressure.
  • Blizzard-A blizzard is when there is a lot of snow and winds.  The winds run more than 35 miles per hour in a blizzard.
  • Blowing Snow Advisory-This warns people that snow is blowing and can cause them not to be able to see.

sky filled with many types of cirrus clouds

  • Cirrus clouds-clouds that are thin and wispy and high in the air.
  • Clear sky-this means there are no clouds.
  • Climate-Climate is weather that has been measured for a long period of time, sometimes more than 20 years.
  • Cloud-A cloud is a formed when cool air rises and water droplets form in the mass.
  • Coastal flooding-this happens when the tides rise past sea level.
  • Cold front-A cold front is when weather is cold because the cool air replaces the warm air and this causes the weather to be cooler.
  • Condensation-when water changes from liquid to fog.
  • Coriolis Effect-The Coriolis Effect is when winds happen and the ocean changes due to the way the Earth rotates.
  • Depression-A depression happens when there is low air pressure and there is a lot of rain and clouds.
  • Dew-Dew are small drops of water that form when the air is moist.
  • Drizzle-light rain.
  • El Nino-El Nino happens when water in the Pacific Ocean is warmed for a long period of time.
  • Excessive Heat Warning-When it is too hot to be outside.
  • Eye-The Eye is the center of the storm, usually in a hurricane or a tornado.  This is the place where things are calm in the storm.

Flooding in a street

  • Flood-A flood happens when the ground is saturated by too much water and it keeps raining.
  • Flash Flood-A Flash flood happens when a lot of rain falls at one time and causes the area to flood.
  • Fog-Fog is a cloud that is low to the ground.
  • Freezing warning-a warning that the temperature is going to fall below 32 degrees.
  • Front-A front is a weather pattern that changes due to the air pressure.
  • Frost warning-a warning that it is going to be cold enough for frost to form.
  • Hail-Hail is a form of precipitation that is ice.
  • High-pressure system-A high pressure system means that the weather should be dry and cool.
  • Humidity-the amount of water in the air.
  • Hurricane-A tropical storm that usually forms close to an ocean and has strong winds.
  • Hygrometer-it measure water vapor and humidity.
  • Ice Storm-This is a weather pattern when rain falls but it is so cold that it turns immediately into ice.
  • Knot-This is how wind speed is measured in the ocean.  Two knots equal 3 miles per hour.
  • Jet Stream-This happens when there are strong winds in the atmosphere.

Cross section of the subtropical and polar jet streams by latitude

  • La Nina-When the water cools down in the Pacific Ocean.
  • Low Pressure System-This means that the air will most likely be wet and warm.
  • Meteorology-The study of weather.
  • Precipitation-Any type of water that comes from the sky and falls to the surface of the earth.  It can be rain, snow or even sleet.
  • Prevailing winds-Winds that move in the same direction on the surface of the earth.
  • Rain-precipitation that happens when the clouds get too heavy and the water comes down.
  • Snow-precipitation that is frozen when it falls from the sky.
  • Squall-This is when there are strong winds that happen quickly.
  • Storm surge-When the sea level rises because of storms.
  • Thunderstorm-A storm that has lightning and thunder followed by rain and winds.
  • Tornado-a storm that has high winds and rotating clouds on the ground.
  • Tropical cyclone-this is a hurricane that forms over the water.
  • Typhoon-this is a hurricane that comes from Asia.
  • Warm front-this is when warm air replaces the air that is cooler.
  • Water vapor-this is the moisture that goes into the air as a gas.
  • Wind-this is when molecules made of gasses such as oxygen and nitrogen move through the Earth.