Weather describes outside conditions in a specific place at a certain time. For example, if it’s raining now, that’s a way to describe today’s weather. Rain, snow, wind, hurricanes, and tornadoes are all weather events.

Chances are you’ve lived through some severe weather events. Thunderstorms, for example, can awe us with their brilliant lightning shows and deafening booms of thunder. Can you imagine them getting brighter or louder?

Scientists have learned that increases in the Earth’s average temperature can affect local weather patterns across the world. They have observed unusual changes recently and warn that severe weather events could happen more often and last longer.

Wherever it happens, extreme weather can harm human health as well as damage crops, property, animal habitats, and economies. Scientists are studying these effects and looking at ways we can lessen their impact.

Some content courtesy of the National Library of Medicine and NASA Climate Kids.