Tag: wind

What Causes Wind?

Perhaps one of the most noticeable aspects of the weather is the wind. It can be a welcome breeze or a hazardous gale, and changes can occur rapidly.  So, what causes the wind? Wind is the result of differences in air pressure. It is produced in an attempt by the atmosphere to equalize pressure over

Outflow Boundaries and Gust Fronts

We have all experienced a gust front, or outflow boundary, before. It is a process associated with thunderstorms and can cause winds strong enough to cause damage. While tied to thunderstorms, the gust front gets to you before the storm does. Gust fronts and outflow boundaries are the same thing. Similar to a cold front,

How Do Sea Breezes Work?

As summer approaches, you may notice when you go to the beach you experience a nice, cool breeze blowing inland during the afternoon. This is known as a sea breeze, but do you know what causes them to form? If you look up the definition of a sea breeze, you are told it is a

The Difference Between Downburst and Tornado Damage

Damage is one of the unfortunate outcomes of storms. In some cases, it is not always obvious whether or not a downburst or a tornado occured. In other cases, damage patterns make it quite clear as to what event caused the destruction. Air flow converges into a tornado, therefore debris points inward along the path. Debris patterns associated with a tornado

What are Troughs and Ridges

If you watch the weather on the nightly news, you may hear about troughs and ridges. Have you ever wondered what they are and why they are important? Troughs and ridges look like what you might expect; a trough is roughly U shaped. To the east of the trough, air will usually rise, allowing for