Right now there are about two thousand thunderstorms going on around the world. Thunderstorms bring intense rain, hail, wind, lightning, thunder, and even tornadoes.

Have you ever wondered what happens in the atmospheric when a thunderstorm forms?

Some places in the United States have more thunderstorms that other areas. What is the average number of thunderstorm days in your state?

Lightning is the most spectacular element of a thunderstorm. Learn how lightning forms, how lightning leads to thunder, and about the three different types of lightning.

A dark funnel of cloud extends below a storm. If it reaches the ground, it’s a tornado.

Only about one thunderstorm in a thousand produces tornadoes. So how do tornadoes form?

Tornadoes, also called twisters, are columns of air rotating dangerously fast. Find out where they happen.

A strong hurricane can spell disaster. These huge storms are the most powerful of all weather systems. Learn about how they form and the impacts they can have.

Only a small number of tropical storms become hurricanes. Learn what is necessary for a hurricane to form.

When a hurricane approaches land, tremendous damage can occur to coastal cities and natural environments. Learn about the potential hazards and how to predict the amount of damage done by a hurricane when it hits.

Learn about the many factors that impact how much storm surge floods a coast as a hurricane or tropical storm comes ashore. 

A monsoon is not a storm like a hurricane or a summer thunderstorm, but a much larger pattern of winds and rain that spans a continent or even the entire globe.

Hoping for a snow day? A snow storm is just one kind of winter storm. Learn what happens when a winter storm occurs, and how this might affect us.

High winds can send snow flying through the air, reducing visibility and causing power outages. That's just some of what you can expect from a blizzard.

Will freezing rain cause an ice storm? Will it rain or snow? Each of these different types of precipitation is possible with a winter storm.

Can you predict if it will rain, sleet, or snow? Test your forecasting skills!

Snowflakes are not the only type of icy precipitation. Find out about other types of ice that fall from the sky.

Some snowflakes are made of a single ice crystal while other, more elaborate, snowflakes are made of as many as 200 ice crystals fused together.