Dictionary:

storm

  (stôrm)

1. An atmospheric disturbance manifested in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.
2. A wind with a speed from 64 to 73 miles (from 103 to 117 kilometers) per hour, according to the Beaufort scale. Also called violent storm.
3. A heavy shower of objects, such as bullets or missiles.
4. A strong or violent outburst, as of emotion or excitement: a storm of tears.
5. A violent disturbance or upheaval, as in political, social, or domestic affairs: a storm of protest.
6. A violent, sudden attack on a fortified place.
7. A storm window.

1. 1. To blow forcefully.
   2. To precipitate rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
2. To be extremely angry; rant and rage.
3. To move or rush tumultuously, violently, or angrily: stormed into the room.

To assault, capture, or captivate by storm. See synonyms at attack.

take by storm

1. To captivate completely: a new play that took New York City by storm.

[Middle English, from Old English.]

An atmospheric disturbance involving perturbations of the prevailing pressure and wind fields on scales ranging from tornadoes (0.6 mi or 1 km across) to extratropical cyclones (1.2–1900 mi or 2–3000 km across); also, the associated weather (rain storm, blizzard, and the like). Storms influence human activity in such matters as agriculture, transportation, building construction, water impoundment and flood control, and the generation, transmission, and consumption of electric energy. See also Wind.

The form assumed by a storm depends on the nature of its environment, especially the large-scale flow patterns and the horizontal and vertical variation of temperature; thus the storms most characteristic of a given region vary according to latitude, physiographic features, and season. Extratropical cyclones and anticyclones are the chief disturbances over roughly half the Earth's surface. Their circulations control the embedded smaller-scale storms. Large-scale disturbances of the tropics differ fundamentally from those of extratropical latitudes. See also Hurricane; Squall; Tornado; Tropical meteorology.

Cyclones form mainly in close proximity to the jet stream, that is, in strongly baroclinic regions where there is a large increase of wind with height. Weather patterns in cyclones are highly variable, depending on moisture content and thermodynamic stability of air masses drawn into their circulations. Warm and occluded fronts, east of and extending into the cyclone center, are regions of gradual upgliding motions, with widespread cloud and precipitation but usually no pronounced concentration of stormy conditions. Extensive cloudiness also is often present in the warm sector. Passage of the cold front is marked by a sudden wind shift, often with the onset of gusty conditions, with a pronounced tendency for clearing because of general subsidence behind the front. Showers may be present in the cold air if it is moist and unstable because of heating from the surface. Thunderstorms, with accompanying squalls and heavy rain, are often set off by sudden lifting of warm, moist air at or near the cold front, and these frequently move eastward into the warm sector. See also Cyclone; Jet stream; Weather.

Extratropical cyclones alternate with high-pressure systems or anticyclones, whose circulation is generally opposite to that of the cyclone. The circulations of highs are not so intense as in well-developed cyclones, and winds are weak near their centers. In low levels the air spirals outward from a high; descent in upper levels results in warming and drying aloft. Anticyclones fall into two main categories, the warm “subtropical” and the cold “polar” highs.

Between the scales of ordinary air turbulence and of cyclones, there exist a variety of circulations over a middle-scale or mesoscale range, loosely defined as from about one-half up to a few hundred miles. Alternatively, these are sometimes referred to as subsynoptic-scale disturbances because their dimensions are so small that they elude adequate description by the ordinary synoptic network of surface weather stations. Thus their detection often depends upon observation by indirect sensing systems. See also Meteorological satellites; Radar meteorology; Storm detection.

noun

A concentrated outpouring, as of missiles, words, or blows: barrage, bombardment, burst, cannonade, fusillade, hail¹, salvo, shower, volley. See attack/defend.

verb

To set upon with violent force: aggress, assail, assault, attack, beset, fall on (or upon), go at, have at, sail into, strike. Informal light into, pitch into. See attack/defend.

Definition: commotion, turmoil
Antonyms: calm, peace

n

Definition: strong weather
Antonyms: calm, clearness

n. 1. a heavy discharge of missiles or blows: two men were taken by a storm of bullets.

2. a direct assault by troops on a fortified place.

(of troops) suddenly attack and capture (a building or other place) by means of force: commandos stormed a hijacked plane early today.

take something by storm (of troops) capture a place by a sudden and violent attack.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

The notion that great storms accompany the passing of great persons was formerly widespread and generally accepted. The most widely mentioned instance was probably the death of Cromwell in 1658, still remembered by Samuel Pepys in his Diary four years later on 18 February 1662, while the following year he was worried by another storm: (19 Oct. 1663): Waked with a very highe winde, and said to my wife, ‘I pray God I hear not of the death of any great person, this wind is so high’, fearing that the Queene might be dead.

It could apparently be the great evil of the deceased or their great fame which caused the disturbance (Denham Tracts, 1895: ii. 29-30). On the other side of the coin, several references in Opie and Tatem (1989: 432-3) indicate that good people's deeds are often accompanied by good weather.

A shelf cloud associated with a heavy or severe thunderstorm over Enschede, Netherlands

A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by strong wind, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation, such as ice (ice storm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere (as in a dust storm, snowstorm, hailstorm, etc).

Formation

Satellite image of the intense nor'easter responsible for the North American blizzard of 2006. Note the hurricane-like eye at the center.

Storms are created when a center of low pressure develops, with a system of high pressure surrounding it. This combination of opposing forces can create winds and result in the formation of storm clouds, such as the cumulonimbus. Small, localized areas of low pressure can form from hot air rising off hot ground, resulting in smaller disturbances such as dust devils and whirlwinds.

Types

There are many varieties and names for storms.

• Ice Storm - Ice storms are one of the most dangerous forms of winter weather. When surface temperatures are below freezing, but a thick layer of above freezing air remains aloft above ground level, rain can fall into the freezing layer and freeze upon impact into a glaze. In general, 8 mm or 1/4" of accumulation is all that is required, especially in combination with breezy conditions, to start downing power lines as well as tree limbs.^[1] Ice storms also make unheated road surfaces too slick to drive upon. Ice storms can vary in time range from hours to days and can cripple both small towns and large urban centers alike.
• Blizzard - There are varying definitions for blizzards, both over time and by location. In general, a blizzard is accompanied by gale-force winds (winds of around 35 kts/40 mph or greater), heavy snow (accumulating at a rate of a 5+ cm/2+ in per hour), and very cold conditions (below approximately -10C/14F). As of late, the temperature criteria has fallen out of the definition across the United States^[2]
• Snowstorm - A heavy fall of snow (accumulating at a rate of a 5+ cm/2+ in per hour) that lasts several hours. Snow storms, especially ones with a high liquid equivalent and breezy conditions, can down tree limbs, cut off power, and paralyze travel over a large region.
  

  

  Sea storm, west coast of Portugal
• Ocean Storm - Storm conditions out at sea are defined as having sustained winds of 48 kts/55 mph or greater.^[3] Usually just referred to as a storm, these systems can sink vessels of all types and sizes out at sea.
• Dust devil - a small, localized updraft of rising air.
• Windstorm - a severe weather condition indicated by high winds and with little or no rain, like European windstorm.
• Squall - sudden onset of wind increase of at least 16 knots or greater sustained for at least one minute.
• Gale - An extratropical storm with sustained winds between 34-48 kts/39-55 mph.^[3]
• Thunderstorm - A thunderstorm is a type of storm that generates lightning and the attendant thunder. It is normally accompanied by heavy precipitation. Thunderstorms occur throughout the world, with the highest frequency in tropical rainforest regions where there are conditions of high humidity and temperature along with atmospheric instability. These storms occur when high levels of condensation form in a volume of unstable air that generates deep, rapid, upward motion in the atmosphere. The heat energy creates powerful rising air currents that swirl upwards to the tropopause. Cool descending air currents produce strong downdraughts below the storm. After the storm has spent its energy, the rising currents die away and downdraughts break up the cloud. Individual storm clouds can measure 2-10 km across.

• Tropical Cyclone - A tropical cyclone is a storm system with a closed circulation around a centre of low pressure, fueled by the heat released when moist air rises and condenses. The name underscores their origin in the tropics and their cyclonic nature. They are distinguished from other cyclonic storms such as nor'easters and polar lows by the heat mechanism that fuels them, which makes them "warm core" storm systems.

Heavy storm brought by Typhoon Sanvu in Hong Kong. Sanvu was the first typhoon in 2005 that passed through the city.

Tropical cyclones form in the oceans if the conditions in the area are favorable, and depending on their strength and location, there are various terms by which they are called, such as tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane and typhoon.^[4]

Tropical cyclones can produce extremely high winds, tornadoes, torrential rain (leading to mudslides and flash floods), and drive storm surge onto coastal areas. Though the effects on populations and ships can be catastrophic, tropical cyclones have been known to relieve drought conditions. They carry heat away from the tropics, an important mechanism of the global atmospheric circulation that maintains equilibrium in the environment.

• Hailstorm - a type of storm that precipitates chunks of ice that aren't snow. Hailstorms usually occur during regular thunder storms. While most of the hail that precipitates from the clouds is fairly small and virtually harmless, there have been cases of baseball and golf ball sized hail that caused much damage and injuries.

• Tornado - A tornado is a violent, destructive wind storm occurring on land. Usually its appearance is that of a dark, funnel-shaped cyclone. Often tornadoes are preceded by a thunderstorm and a wall cloud. They are often called the most destructive of storms, and while they form all over the world, the American Midwest is the most prone area, especially Oklahoma and Kansas.

Classification

A strict meteorological definition of a terrestrial storm is a wind measuring 10 or higher on the Beaufort scale, meaning a wind speed of 24.5 m/s (89 km/h, 55 mph) or more; however, popular usage is not so restrictive. Storms can last anywhere from 12 to 200 hours, depending on season and geography. The east and northeast storms are noted for the most frequent repeatability and duration, especially during the cold period.^[5] Big terrestrial storms alter the oceanographic conditions that in turn may affect food abundance and distribution: strong currents, strong tides, increased siltation, change in water temperatures, overturn in the water column, etc.

Extraterrestrial storms

The Great Red Spot on Jupiter

Storms are not unique to Earth; other heavenly bodies with a sufficient atmosphere (gas giants in particular) also undergo stormy weather. A famous example is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. Though technically a hurricane, it is larger than the earth and has been raging for at least 340 years, when it was observed by astronomer Galileo Galilei. Neptune also had its own lesser known Great Dark Spot.

In September of 1994 Hubble telescope using Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 imaged the storms on Saturn, generated by upwelling of warmer air, similar to a terrestrial thunderhead. The east-west extent of the same-year storm was equal to the diameter of Earth (ca. 7,900 miles). The storm was observed earlier in September, 1990 and acquired the name Dragon Storm.

Notable storms in art and culture

The Great Wave, a Ukiyo-e print by Hokusai.

According to the Bible, a giant storm sent by God flooded the Earth. Noah and his family and the animals entered the Ark, and "the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights." The flood covered even the highest mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet, and all creatures died; only Noah and those with him on the Ark were left alive. See Noah's Ark for details.

In Greek mythology there were several gods of storms: Briareos, by himself the god of sea storms, Aigaios, a god of the violent sea storms and Aiolos who kept the storm-winds, squalls and tempests locked away in the hollows of the floating island of Aiolia, to be released at the command of the gods.

William Shakespeare's play The Tempest (1611) was based on the following incident.^[6] Sir Thomas Gates, future governor of Virginia, was on his way to England from Jamestown, Virginia. On Saint James Day while between Cuba and the Bahamas a hurricane raged for nearly two days. Though one of the small vessels in the fleet sank to the bottom of the Florida Straits, seven of the remaining vessels reached Virginia within several days after the storm. The flagship of the fleet, known as Sea Adventure, disappeared and was presumed lost. A small bit of fortune befell the ship and her crew when they made landfall on Bermuda. The vessel was damaged on a surrounding coral reef, but all aboard survived for nearly a year on the island. The British colonists claimed the island and quickly settled Bermuda. In May 1610, they set forth for Jamestown, this time arriving at their destination.

The Ninth Wave is a 1850 painting by Ivan Aivazovsky.

The Romantic seascape painters J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851) and Ivan Aivazovsky (1817-1900) created some of the most lasting impressions of the sublime and stormy seas that are firmly imprinted on the popular mind. Turner's representations of powerful natural forces reinvented the traditional seascape during the first half of the nineteenth century. Upon his travels to Holland, he took note of the familiar large rolling waves of the English seashore transforming into the sharper, choppy waves of a Dutch storm. A characteristic example of Turner’s dramatic seascape is The Slave Ship (properly Slavers throwing overboard the Dead and Dying - Typhoon Coming On) of 1840. Aivazovsky left several thousand turbulent canvases in which he increasingly eliminated human figures and historical background to focus on such essential elements as light, sea, and sky. His grandiose Ninth Wave (1850) is an ode to human daring in the face of the elements.

See also

Part of the Nature series on Weather
Seasons
Temperate
• Spring • Summer • • Autumn • Winter •
Tropical
• Dry season • • Wet season •
Storms
• Thunderstorm • Tornado • • Tropical Cyclone (Hurricane) • • Winter storm • Blizzard •
Precipitation
• Fog • Drizzle • Rain • • Freezing rain • Sleet • • Hail • Snow •
Topics
• Meteorology • • Weather forecasting • • Climate • Air pollution •
Portal · Project

• Atmospheric pressure
• Blizzard
• Cyclone
• Derecho
• Extreme weather, a list of historical storms and other extreme weather
• Freezing rain
• Geomagnetic storm
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Low pressure area
• Nor'easter
• Storm chasing
• Storm warning
• Tornado
• Tropical cyclone

References

1. ^ City of Kent, Washington. Snow/Ice Storm. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
2. ^ University Corportation for Atmospheric Research. Winter Storms. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
3. ^ ^{a b} Ocean Prediction Center. Terminology and Weather Symbols. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
4. ^ Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Frequently Asked Questions Subject: A1) What is a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone? Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
5. ^ http://grants.rsu.ru/osi/azoveco/Wind.html
6. ^ David M. Roth. Seventeenth Century Virginia Hurricanes. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.

External links

• Media related to Storm from the Wikimedia Commons.

• Quotations at Storm on Wikiquote.
• Branick, Michael. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR-145: A comprehensive glossary of weather terms for storm spotters. Second edition. 1996.bat-smg:Oudra

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - storm, uvejr, voldsomt udbrud, voldsomt anfald, larm
v. intr. - storme, larme, rase
v. tr. - storme, bestorme, angribe, tage med storm, larme, rase

idioms:

• storm cloud    uvejrssky
• storm lantern    flagermuslygte
• storm trooper    stormtrop, S.A.-mand
• storm window    stormvindue
• take by storm    tage med storm

Nederlands (Dutch)
storm, noodweer, opschudding, stormen, bestormen, razen

Français (French)
n. - tempête, orage, (Météo) vent de tempête, assaut, (fig) succès foudroyant, (fig) tempête
v. intr. - prendre d'assaut, rugir (de colère)
v. tr. - faire rage, entrer avec fracas, (fig) tempêter

idioms:

• storm cloud    (lit) nuage orageux, (fig) nuage noir
• storm lantern    lampe-tempête
• storm trooper    membre d'une section d'assaut
• storm window    double fenêtre
• take by storm    prendre d'assaut, bouleverser (qn)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Sturm, Unwetter, Gewitter, Hagel
v. - stürmen, toben

idioms:

• storm cloud    Gewitterwolke
• storm lantern    Sturmlaterne
• storm trooper    SA-Mann
• storm window    Doppelfenster
• take by storm    im Sturm nehmen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - καταιγίδα, θύελλα, έφοδος κατά οχυρής θέσεως, κατάληψη οχυρής θέσεως
v. - μαίνομαι, λυσσομανώ, κάνω έφοδο, ενσκήπτω

idioms:

• storm cloud    πυκνό σύννεφο βροχής, (μτφ.) απειλή
• storm lantern    λάμπα θυέλλης
• storm trooper    (ιστ.) μέλος των ταγμάτων εφόδου του Ναζιστικού Κόμματος
• storm window    (οικοδ.) εξωτερικό διπλό παράθυρο
• take by storm    καταλαμβάνω εξ εφόδου, (καθομ.) συναρπάζω ή προκαλώ βαθύτατη εντύπωση

Italiano (Italian)
assalire, infuriare, tempestare, temporale

idioms:

• storm cloud    nuvola nera
• storm lantern    lampada antivento
• storm trooper    assaltatore
• storm window    controfinestra
• take by storm    prendere d'assalto
• weather the storm    superare la tempesta

Português (Portuguese)
n. - tempestade (f)
v. - tomar de assalto

idioms:

• storm cloud    nuvem de tempestade
• storm lantern    lanterna com proteção contra o vento
• storm trooper    soldado alemão da II Guerra Mundial treinado para atos de violência
• storm window    janela externa secundária usada nos EEUU para maior proteção no inverno
• take by storm    impressionar
• weather the storm    sobreviver dificuldades financeiras

Русский (Russian)
буря, ураган, буря (чего-л.), сильное волнение, смятение, штурм, бушевать, горячиться, ругаться, стремительно нестись, брать приступом

idioms:

• storm cloud    грозовая туча, признак предвещающий беду
• storm lantern    фонарь типа "летучая мышь"
• storm trooper    боец ударных частей, штурмового отряда
• storm window    вторая оконная рама
• take by storm    захватить, завлечь, покорить, взять штурмом
• weather the storm    выстоять, выдержать, преодолеть трудности/испытания, выдержать шторм (о корабле)

Español (Spanish)
n. - tempestad, borrasca, temporal, tormenta
v. intr. - rabiar, haber tempestad, tempestear, alborotar
v. tr. - tomar por asalto, atacar, perturbar, promover alborotos en

idioms:

• storm cloud    nubarrón
• storm lantern    farol de seguridad
• storm trooper    miliciano nazi
• storm window    contraventana
• take by storm    cautivar (una persona), tomar por asalto

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - storm, oväder, störtskur, skur, stormning
v. - vara ursinnig, storma

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
暴风雨, 风波, 骚动, 起风暴, 横冲直撞, 猛冲, 下暴雨, 暴怒, 猛攻, 狠狠抨击, 袭取

idioms:

• storm cloud    暴风云, 动乱的征兆
• storm lantern    防风灯, 风暴灯
• storm trooper    纳粹党突击队员, 极为凶狠之人, 纳粹党员
• storm window    遮挡风雪的护窗
• take by storm    攻占, 强夺, 强烈感染, 使大吃一惊

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 暴風雨, 風波, 騷動
v. intr. - 起風暴, 橫衝直撞, 猛衝, 下暴雨, 暴怒
v. tr. - 猛攻, 狠狠抨擊, 襲取

idioms:

• storm cloud    暴風雲, 動亂的徵兆
• storm lantern    防風燈, 風暴燈
• storm trooper    納粹黨突擊隊員, 極為兇狠之人, 納粹黨員
• storm window    遮擋風雪的護窗
• take by storm    攻佔, 強奪, 強烈感染, 使大吃一驚

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 폭풍우, 큰 비, 맹공격
v. intr. - (날씨가)사나워지다, 격노하다, 맹공격을 가하다
v. tr. - 습격하다, 매료하다, ~을 분개하여 말하다

idioms:

• take by storm    (청중 등을) 매료하다, 사로잡다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - シュトルム, 嵐, 豪雨, 激発, 強襲, 騒動, 雨あられ, 暴風雨
v. - 荒れる, 嵐になる, 突撃する, どなりちらす, 襲撃する, 攻めたてる

idioms:

• storm cloud    あらし雲, 動乱の前兆
• storm lantern    風防付きのランプ
• storm trooper    突撃隊員
• storm window    防風窓, 雨戸
• take by storm    強襲して取る, たちまち心酔させる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) عاصفه, زوبعه (فعل) عصف, ثار, اندفع بعنف و غضب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סערה, סופה, סער, התפרצות, געש, סערת-רגשות, מטר אבנים, מטר מכות, מטר טילים, הסתערות, כיבוש בהסתערות, מטח תשואות‬
v. intr. - ‮סער, געש, השתולל, התפרץ בזעם, דיבר מתוך זעם‬
v. tr. - ‮כבש בסערה, הסתער‬

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