How Weather Works

How Weather Works

Learn how temperature, humidity, wind, and pressure influence the weather

What Is Weather?

Rain and dull clouds, windy blue skies, cold snow, and sticky heat are very different conditions, yet they are all weather.

Weather Fronts

When a front passes over an area, it means a change in the weather. Many fronts cause weather events such as rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds and tornadoes.

Weather Forecasts

Learn about weather map symbols and how they are used to make predictions of the weather.

A Global Look at Moving Air: Atmospheric Circulation

Air moves around the planet in a consistent pattern, called atmospheric circulation. Learn how convection and the spinning of the Earth create the prevailing winds.

The Highs and Lows of Air Pressure

How do we know what the pressure is? How do we know how it changes over time? 

Wind

Wind is air moving from a place that has higher pressure to one that has lower pressure. Sometimes wind is just a light breeze and other times it is strong enough to blow the roofs off buildings.

Humidity

The amount of water vapor in the air is called humidity.

The Water Cycle

Water can be in the atmosphere, on the land, in the ocean, and underground. It moves from place to place through the water cycle.

Weather Glossary

A glossary of common weather related words.