Fun Weather Facts!

In light of the random and unusual weather conditions many area across the United States have been experiencing of late, enjoy these Fun Weather Facts!

1. In 1859, the largest known geomagnetic storm struck the Caribbean, causing an aurora and telegraphs could even operate without a power source.

2. Circumhorizontal arcs (loosely known as fire rainbows) are the rarest of all naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena.

3. The winter of 1912 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze over.

4 .Most people notice a distinctive smell in the air after it rains. That smell after rain is caused by bacteria called 'actinomycetes'.

5. There is a persistent storm in Venezuela that produces lightning 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour and has been going since at least the 16th century.

6. There is enough energy in one bolt of lightning to power a home for two weeks!

7. The Earth sees about 760 thunderstorms every hour, scientists have calculated.

8. Carbon dioxide is a trace gas and by itself will produce little warming. Also, as CO2 increases, the incremental warming is less, as the effect is logarithmic so the more CO2, the less warming it produces.

9. Temperatures have been cooling since 2002, even as carbon dioxide has continued to rise.

10.  The winter of 1932 in the US was so cold that Niagara falls froze completely solid!

11.  The speed of a typical raindrop is 17 miles per hour.

12.  Snowiest city in the U.S. : Blue canyon, California.

13.  Rain contains vitamin B12.

14.  Oak trees are struck by lightning more than any other tree.

15.  Moist air holds heat better than dry air.

16. Men are 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning than women!

17.  It snows more in the Grand Canyon than it does in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

18.  It is possible to see a rainbow at night!

19.  In ten minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all the world's nuclear weapons combined!

20. Dirty snow melts faster than clean.

21.  Contrary to popular belief, lightning travels from the ground upwards not from the sky downwards.

22.  9 out of 10 lightning strike victims survive!

23.  -40 degrees Celsius is equal to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.