WEATHER

If you’re only measuring air temp, you’re only getting half the picture.

What Is “Wet Bulb Temperature”?

If you’ve ever said “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity,” you already understand what goes into calculating wet bulb temperature.

Why Do Some Road Signs Have Holes in Them?

Yes, they‘re often bullet holes. No, that‘s not the only explanation.

A tornado south of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, touched down on April 15, 2012.

10 of the Most Terrifying Tornadoes in History

Tornadoes can (and do) happen anywhere. Here are 10 of the most terrible twisters to ever take a turn on Earth.

Here’s What the Inside of a Tornado Looks Like

Filming the inside of a tornado is tricky for obvious reasons.

The 25 States Most Likely to Lose Power This Summer

Discover which U.S. states have an elevated risk of losing power this summer, plus how to prepare for a power outage ahead of time.

No one wants to see anything near 100°F on their dashboard.

Why Your Car Dashboard Says It’s a Lot Hotter Than It Really Is

You aren’t imagining things: Your weather app and your dashboard don’t often agree.

A few yards of clear air means the difference between a tornado and a funnel cloud.

Tornado vs. Funnel Cloud: What's the Difference?

People often confuse funnel clouds with tornadoes, but they're not the same. Learn how to tell the two apart.

See Why Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo Is Called 'The Lightning Capital of the World'

Learn how Lake Maracaibo's electrifying climate makes it the number one hotspot for lightning storms.

The dog days of summer don’t actually have anything to do with this dog.

What Are The Dog Days of Summer?

The dog days of summer don’t actually have much to do with dogs. Instead, they relate to Sirius, otherwise known as the Dog Star.

The northern lights—caused by solar or geomagnetic storm—float over Tromsø, Norway.

12 Stunning Facts About Solar Storms

Solar storms are one of the most extreme types of space weather, and big ones can cause electronic malfunctions, GPS breakdowns, and gorgeous northern lights.

13 People Who Operated on Themselves

From the Founding Father who stuck whalebone where he shouldn’t have to the only known woman to have given herself a C-section.

The busy 2010 Atlantic hurricane season shows Hurricane Karl west of the Yucatan Peninsula, Hurricane Igor east of Puerto Rico, and Hurricane Julia in mid-Atlantic.

12 Powerful Facts About Hurricanes

The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. Here’s what you need to know about these destructive storms.

A major thunderstorm is about to blow over this vineyard.

Scattered vs. Isolated Thunderstorms: What’s the Difference?

Meteorologists convey the chance of cloud cover or rain in percentages, but what those numbers mean in the real world isn’t always clear—so you’ll often hear terms like ‘scattered’ and ‘isolated’ to describe thunderstorms.

The open road is the last place you want to be during a tornado.

Should You Ever Park Under an Overpass During a Tornado?

Overpasses are widely seen as safe shelters during a severe weather event. In reality, they're deadly.

British Navy landing crafts carry U.S. troops to a ship in Southern England in preparation for D-Day.

The Meteorologists Who Helped Plan D-Day

“Meteorologically, D-Day was bound to be a gamble against the odds.”

She probably wound up with bug bites in some very uncomfortable places.

The Best U.S. Cities for Gardening Naked

Like gardening naked? You may want to move to one of these cities.

Lightning strikes over the Freedom Tower (a.k.a. One World Trade Center) in New York City.

Did Ben Franklin Really Invent the Lightning Rod?

Ben Franklin’s famous experiment with the kite and key gave him a better understanding of the nature of electricity. But did that event lead to the lightning rod?

Why Do We Call It a “Rain Check”?

When we promise to honor a commitment, it's a "rain check." And yes, it originally had something to do with the weather.

Map showing the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse.

NASA's Interactive Eclipse Map Tells You Where and When to Get the Best View

If you want to experience the solar eclipse on April 8, this interactive tool has everything you need to know.

Now that spring is upon us, incorporate these seasonal words into your vocabulary.

18 Words to Welcome Spring

The days are getting longer and warmer, and that means it’s the perfect time to pull these fun spring words out of hibernation.

Snow blankets the Donner Lake area in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

10 of the Biggest Blizzards in History

The United States has hosted half of the biggest blizzards in history. Discover what makes these snowstorms so legendary.

Seems like overcrowding could be an issue.

The 25 Happiest Cities in America

Is it possible to make an objective list of cities offering your best chance of happiness? Maybe.

Frost Bite: When Sub-Zero Temperatures Shattered an Antarctic Explorer’s Teeth

“Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has been devised,” he later wrote.

You’ll want to work these Scottish slang terms into conversation.

Scottish Slang: 13 Terms You Should Know

Curious about Scottish slang? Learn the meanings of terms like ‘git awa’ and bile yer heid’ and impress your friends on your next visit to Scotland.

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