Wind and Storms

Have you ever wondered why the wind blows? Or what is really happening when thunder booms and lightning flashes? Weather is always moving and changing — and it is all powered by the sun.

What causes wind

• Wind is moving air. Air moves because the sun heats different parts of the Earth unevenly.
• Warm air is lighter and rises. Cooler air rushes in to fill the gap — that rushing air is wind.
• Example: On a hot day at the beach, cool air from the ocean rushes inland — that is a sea breeze.

What wind does

• Wind blows seeds to new places, helping plants spread and grow.
• Wind can power windmills and wind turbines to make electricity.
• Strong winds can break tree branches, knock over objects, and create big waves.

Thunderstorms

• A thunderstorm brings heavy rain, lightning, and thunder.
• Lightning is a giant spark of electricity jumping between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.
• Thunder is the booming sound that lightning makes as it heats the air around it very quickly.
• You can estimate how far away lightning is: count the seconds between the flash and the boom — every 5 seconds means the lightning is about 1 mile away.

Storm safety

• Go indoors immediately during a thunderstorm.
• Stay away from windows, tall trees, and metal objects.
• If you are outside, get to a building or a car with a grown-up right away.
• Wait for the storm to pass — stay inside until 30 minutes after the last thunder.