Severe Weather Events MCQs (Meterology)

1. What is a tornado?
(A) A large, swirling hurricane
(B) A rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground
(C) A cloud of dust and sand
(D) A type of tropical storm

2. Which scale is used to measure the intensity of a tornado?
(A) Richter scale
(B) Fujita scale
(C) Saffir-Simpson scale
(D) Beaufort scale

3. What is the primary difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?
(A) Strength
(B) Wind speed
(C) Location
(D) Time of year

4. Which of the following is a common effect of severe thunderstorms?
(A) Tornadoes
(B) Flooding
(C) Hail
(D) All of the above

5. What is the name given to a severe winter storm characterized by strong winds and snow?
(A) Blizzard
(B) Cyclone
(C) Tornado
(D) Typhoon

6. What phenomenon occurs when a heavy rainfall overwhelms rivers and drainage systems?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Tsunami
(C) Flash flood
(D) Landslide

7. Which of the following best describes a storm surge?
(A) A sudden rise in sea level caused by a storm
(B) A powerful wind storm
(C) Rapid rainfall accumulation
(D) A type of drought

8. What does the term “derecho” refer to?
(A) A rotating wind storm
(B) A long-lived, widespread windstorm associated with fast-moving thunderstorms
(C) A type of heatwave
(D) A tropical cyclone

9. Which of the following is considered the most destructive aspect of hurricanes?
(A) Wind speeds
(B) Tornadoes
(C) Flooding from storm surge
(D) Lightning strikes

10. What is the term for a violent windstorm over a desert region that creates dust storms?
(A) Cyclone
(B) Haboob
(C) Tornado
(D) Hurricane

11. What is the scale used to classify hurricanes based on their intensity?
(A) Fujita scale
(B) Richter scale
(C) Saffir-Simpson scale
(D) Mercalli scale

12. Which region of a hurricane typically has the strongest winds?
(A) Eye
(B) Eye wall
(C) Outer rainbands
(D) Central spiral

13. What causes a tornado to form?
(A) Warm and cold air masses colliding
(B) Intense heat
(C) High humidity
(D) Calm weather conditions

14. What is the most common type of severe weather in the United States?
(A) Tornadoes
(B) Thunderstorms
(C) Hurricanes
(D) Blizzards

15. Which phenomenon is characterized by rotating, organized thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes?
(A) Hurricane
(B) Supercell
(C) Blizzard
(D) Derecho

16. What is the term for a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather?
(A) Drought
(B) Heatwave
(C) Cold front
(D) Cyclone

17. Which type of cloud is typically associated with thunderstorms and severe weather?
(A) Cirrus
(B) Stratus
(C) Cumulonimbus
(D) Altostratus

18. What does the term “storm surge” usually refer to in the context of a hurricane?
(A) A tidal wave caused by a storm
(B) A rapid decrease in pressure
(C) A rise in sea level due to the storm’s winds
(D) An increase in wind speeds

19. Which of the following is a major risk during a heatwave?
(A) Flooding
(B) Heatstroke
(C) Frostbite
(D) Tornadoes

20. Which severe weather event is most likely to cause a large-scale power outage?
(A) Tornado
(B) Blizzard
(C) Heatwave
(D) Thunderstorm

21. What is the primary danger of a flash flood?
(A) Long-duration rainfall
(B) Rapid onset and overwhelming water levels
(C) High winds
(D) Strong lightning

22. What weather condition is required for the formation of a blizzard?
(A) High temperatures
(B) Low wind speeds
(C) High wind speeds and heavy snowfall
(D) High atmospheric pressure

23. What type of severe weather event is most likely to occur during the summer months in the tropics?
(A) Blizzard
(B) Tornado
(C) Hurricane
(D) Dust storm

24. Which weather event involves high winds and swirling debris but does not touch the ground?
(A) Dust devil
(B) Tornado
(C) Hurricane
(D) Thunderstorm

25. Which region is known for frequent tornadoes, earning the name “Tornado Alley”?
(A) Southeastern United States
(B) Midwest United States
(C) Northwestern United States
(D) Northeastern United States

26. Which part of a hurricane has the calmest weather conditions?
(A) Eye
(B) Eye wall
(C) Rainbands
(D) Outer edges

27. What weather phenomenon results in a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms over tropical waters?
(A) Blizzard
(B) Tornado
(C) Cyclone
(D) Thunderstorm

28. Which weather phenomenon is most likely to lead to a wildfire?
(A) Tornado
(B) Heatwave
(C) Blizzard
(D) Hailstorm

29. Which of the following is a necessary condition for the formation of a cyclone?
(A) Warm ocean water
(B) Cold air masses
(C) Calm winds
(D) High-pressure systems

30. What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
(A) A watch means conditions are favorable; a warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar
(B) A warning is less severe than a watch
(C) A watch means a tornado is currently happening
(D) A watch is only issued for hurricanes