Did you know how hurricanes and typhoons get their names? Previously, no system existed; the names of the hurricanes depended on the date (for example, Hurricane Santa Anna, which happened on St. Anne’s Day) or its form (as happened with Hurricane “Pin”). There were even anecdotic cases: for example, one meteorologist from Australia used to give the hurricanes the names of politicians who voted against the budget for meteorological research.
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Europe: History & System: The practice of naming storms in Europe is relatively recent compared to the USA. It began in the 1950s for the North Atlantic storms and was more widely adopted in the 21st century. Various national meteorological agencies across Europe are responsible for naming storms. For instance, the UK’s Met Office, Ireland’s Met Éireann, and the Netherlands' Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute collaborate to name storms that impact their regions.
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A blizzard is winter’s grand crescendo, a fierce and relentless combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds. The world seems to vanish behind a curtain of swirling snow, with visibility dropping to near zero. Temperatures plummet well below freezing, often in the range of -30 to -10°C (-22 to 14°F).
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Blowing snow is winter’s dramatic flair, a spectacle of snowflakes whisked into frenzied dances by gusty winds. It’s like the snow is being choreographed in a ballet, twirling, rising, and swirling in the air. This isn’t your gentle snowfall; it’s dynamic and animated. With temperatures well below freezing, often around -5 to -15°C (23 to 5°F), the landscape turns into a frosty realm.
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On Mexico’s west coast, a powerful wind called the Cordonazo, or el cordonazo de San Francisco (the Lash of St Francis), commands attention. This southerly hurricane wind brings challenges and uncertainty to the region. It typically occurs in late summer and early autumn when warm, moist air meets cooler ocean temperatures, forming tropical cyclones or hurricanes.
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Mist occurs when temperatures range from 5 to 15°C and warm air meets cooler surfaces. This interaction of warm and cool air leads to the formation of very small water droplets in the atmosphere. Unlike fog, which contains larger droplets, mist droplets are typically not visible to the naked eye.
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As summer takes hold, the night sky prepares to dazzle stargazers with one of its less predictable but no less enchanting spectacles: the June Bootid Meteor Shower. Set against the backdrop of the constellation Boötes, this meteor shower offers an opportunity for an impromptu celestial light show. Mark your calendars for the last week of June to catch this cosmic event.
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As summer settles in, stargazers are in for a treat. Late June offers some of the year’s best opportunities to witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles – the luminous band of the Milky Way stretching across the night sky. This cosmic display is particularly striking for those in the Southern Hemisphere or lucky enough to find themselves in dark-sky locations.
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