What is a supercell? What is wind shear and why is it important in tropical storm development? Does a red flag warning mean that a wildfire is imminent? Sometimes weather terminology can be confusing, and it seems like there’s a new term to learn each year.
To properly plan and prepare for extreme weather conditions it’s important to understand the language used in current weather forecasting and reporting.
Catastrophe Vocabulary:
According to NOAA, “a hurricane is a type of storm called a tropical cyclone, which forms over the tropical or subtropical waters” and has sustained wind speeds of 74mph or greater.1 Hurricanes are rated based on windspeeds using the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, ranging from 1-5. This rating system measures the sustained windspeeds but does not consider other impacts that occur as a result of the storm.
Did you know?
The Cape Verde Islands are located off the western coast of Africa and are often mentioned in tropical cyclone development because of the many the tropical storms that originate there that often make landfall in the U.S.3
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, defines a wildfire is an accidental and undesired blaze that occurs in a natural environment, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie.4
Did you know?
Although lightning can be a factor, human carelessness is the primary cause of wildfires in the U.S. 4
NOAA defines a tornado as a “narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground9.” Tornadoes pose a significant threat and can result in widespread destruction. While tornadoes can happen anywhere in the world, the United States consistently experiences the greatest frequency of reported tornado occurrences each year.10
Did you know?
According to the NOAA, on average there are 1,000 tornadoes reported in the U.S. each year.13
The United States Geological Survey, or USGS, says that earthquake is a “term used to describe both sudden slip on a fault, and the resulting ground shaking and radiated seismic energy caused by the slip, or by volcanic or magmatic activity, or other sudden stress changes in the earth”.14 Earthquakes cannot be predicted but it is possible to estimate the possibility of a seismic event taking place in a particular location.
Did you know?
Approximately 100 earthquakes a year cause damage but there are an estimated 500,000 detectable earthquakes annually. Southern California experiences about 100,000 earthquakes a year, but most are small and never felt.16
1https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/hurricane.html
3https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230825-the-other-nio-that-fuels-the-most-destructive-hurricanes
4https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Wildfire-What
5https://www.redzone.co/2022/06/10/wildfire-containment-explained/
6https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/prescribed-fire
7https://www.weather.gov/mqt/redflagtips
8https://wfca.com/articles/how-does-humidity-affect-wildfire/
9https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
10https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/what-countries-have-tornadoes
11https://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/supercells.htm
12https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/what-is-tornado-alley-2/432271
13https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-tornadoes-and-thunderstorms
14https://www.usgs.gov/glossary/earthquake-hazards-program
15https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/tsunami/en/
16https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/cool-earthquake-facts
17https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/bombogenesis.html
This document is advisory in nature and is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional insurance advisors in maintaining a loss prevention program. It is an overview only, and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your insurance broker, or for legal, engineering or other professional advice.
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