Mental Floss

WEATHER

Satellite image of Santa Ana winds in Southern California.

And why do they help create fire conditions?

Arthur Rothstein, Library of Congress, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

It was a disaster of mankind’s own making—and as it raged on, people piped up with some wild ideas about how to put an end to it.

iStock/KarenHBlack

It won't just get hotter.

STUART HERBERT VIA FLICKR // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Bad weather can wreak terrible destruction—but it can also uncover amazing treasures.

Barry Williams/Getty Images

Even a Category 4 storm is no match for the beloved restaurant chain.

iStock

If you've considered adopting a pet, now's the time.

A little planning ahead goes a long way.

Wildfires and other natural disasters can cause pets to panic and get stressed out, but these emergency preparedness tips can help you keep them safe.

NOAA Legacy Photo ERL/WPL, Flickr // CC BY 2.0

Although they cover only a tiny area, the destruction can be severe.

iStock

New research hints that a volcano may have rained all over Napoleon's parade in 1815.

iStock

Our everyday activities really are able to indirectly influence the weather in ways that go far beyond our addiction to greenhouse gases.

NOAA Climate.gov/NCEI

A map of the U.S. showing the warmest day of the year by location was created using climate data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.

iStock

Surveyors are taking advantage of the uncharacteristic weather.

iStock

High temperatures really do make your brain feel fried.

iStock

It's not quite 'Twister,' but it's close.

iStock

And does an emerald hue always mean it's time to run inside?

Mario Tama, Getty Images

You don't want to come into contact with even the slightest wisp of it.

iStock

Here's one way to feel better after being baked.

Chloe Effron

With clouds, gravity pulls the water droplets out of the sky, and then they fall as rain. Here's why it rains.

MegaSecur, YouTube

The Water-Gate creates a flood barrier when the waters rise.

iStock

The tropical flora could one day be a common sight at higher latitudes.

Pete Jelliffe, Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0

The $13 gloves used thermochromic ink to make images "appear" when the temperature dropped below 40 degrees.

A snowstorm hits New York.

Aside from awesome, that is.

iStock

The town of Aïn Séfra, Algeria is digging out from a freak snowstorm and battling sub-zero temperatures.

Svetlana Ivanova, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

Temperatures occupy -40°F territory all winter.