What Is A Haboob!? + 7 Other Wild Weather Phenomenons You Should Know
WRITE A BETTER INTRO However, nature sometimes produces events that go far beyond standard rain or shine. Understanding these rare phenomena helps us stay safe and appreciate the incredible power of our atmosphere. Here are eight wild weather events you should know.
The Haboob
You might think you're looking at a scene from a science fiction movie when you see this wall of dust approaching. A haboob is an intense dust storm carried by an atmospheric gravity current. They occur regularly in arid regions like Arizona and often form from the outflow of a collapsing thunderstorm. The wind kicks up a massive wall of loose dust and sand that can reach thousands of feet high. If you see one, seek shelter immediately. Driving becomes nearly impossible due to zero visibility. Your garden will likely need a heavy hose down afterward to remove the coating of grit from the leaves.
The Derecho
A derecho is a widespread and long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Unlike a tornado, which causes damage in a circular motion, a derecho causes damage in one direction along a relatively straight path. These storms can span hundreds of miles and snap trees in half with hurricane-force winds. For homeowners, this means securing loose patio furniture and checking the health of large trees near your house is vital.
Frost Flowers
This phenomenon is a special treat for the observant gardener. Frost flowers aren't actual flowers but delicate ice formations. They occur in late autumn or early winter when the air is freezing but the ground is still not frozen. The sap in the stem of certain plants expands as it freezes and splits the stem open. Water extrudes through these cracks and freezes instantly into thin, ribbon-like petals. They are incredibly fragile and will melt as soon as the sun touches them, so you have to wake up early to see them.
Thundersnow
Most of us associate lightning and thunder with warm summer rains. However, under the right conditions, you can experience a thunderstorm while it is snowing. This is called thundersnow. It occurs when an unstable air mass creates strong upward motion in a winter storm. The snow acts as an acoustic dampener, so the thunder often sounds more like a low rumble than a sharp crack. It is a rare and startling event that usually indicates heavy snowfall rates are occurring.
Virga
Have you ever looked at the sky and seen rain falling from a cloud, but it never seems to reach the ground? That is virga. It happens when rain or ice crystals fall through a layer of dry air and evaporate before landing. It creates beautiful, wispy streaks in the sky that look like jellyfish tentacles hanging from the clouds. Unfortunate for those wanting rain, but still beautiful to see.
Graupel
It looks like hail, but it feels like Styrofoam. Graupel is often called soft hail or snow pellets. It forms when supercooled water droplets coat a snowflake. The result is a small, white ball of rime ice. Unlike hail, which is hard and clear, graupel is cloudy and crushes easily between your fingers. It typically falls when temperatures are near freezing, but not quite freezing enough. While it is generally less damaging to plants than hard hail, it can still accumulate quickly on delicate leaves.
Heat Bursts
We usually expect thunderstorms to cool the air down, but a heat burst does the exact opposite. This rare event happens when a dying thunderstorm collapses and sends a rush of dry air toward the ground. As the air descends, it compresses and heats up rapidly. Temperatures can spike by 20 degrees or more in just a few minutes, accompanied by damaging winds. This sudden blast of hot, dry air can instantly dehydrate plants and stress your garden. Fortunately, these are uncommon and usually happen at night.
Mammatus Clouds
These are perhaps the most ominous-looking clouds in the sky. Mammatus clouds appear as pouch-like structures hanging underneath the base of a rain cloud. They look like a sky full of boiling bubbles or cotton balls. Despite their threatening appearance, they usually signal that the worst of a storm has passed. They form in sinking air, which is the opposite of the rising air that creates clouds.
Weather is the one variable in our lives that we can watch but never control. Whether it is the beautiful fragility of a frost flower or the intimidating wall of a haboob, these phenomena remind us that we are just small parts of a larger ecosystem. Keep an eye on the sky and keep yourself prepared for whatever nature decides to send your way.