The Science of Extreme Weather

Course Overview

Tour the world’s wildest weather with a storm-chasing, prize-winning meteorologist in these 24 thrilling lectures on tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, and other wild weather events.

Course No. 1771

This 24-lecture course with meteorologist Eric R. Snodgrass reveals:

• How extreme weather systems form and behave
• Advanced forecasting technologies
• Life-saving safety strategies
• Historical weather disasters
• Climate patterns influencing severe weather

Through cutting-edge science and real-world examples, understand Earth’s most powerful atmospheric phenomena.

Key Topics Covered:

• Thunderstorm formation and types
• Tornado genesis and chasing
• Hurricane structure and impacts
• Winter storms and blizzards
• Floods, droughts and heat waves
• Lightning science and safety
• Radar and satellite technology
• Climate cycles like El Niño

Video Lectures

01: Extreme Weather Is Everywhere (36 min)

Introduction to Earth’s weather systems and course goals.

02: Temperature Extremes and Cold-Air Outbreaks (33 min)

Planetary temperature variations and deadly weather patterns.

03: Low Pressure and Earth’s High Winds (32 min)

Air pressure’s role in creating powerful wind systems.

04: Extreme Humidity, Rain, and Fog (33 min)

Water’s phase changes and energy in storm systems.

05: How Radar Reveals Storms (32 min)

Doppler radar technology for tornado prediction.

06: How Satellites Track Severe Weather (34 min)

Orbiting weather stations and hurricane tracking.

07: Anatomy of a Lightning Strike (30 min)

Slow-motion analysis of billion-volt discharges.

08: Lightning Extremes and Survival (29 min)

Positive polarity lightning and safety protocols.

09: Thunderstorm Formation and Weather Balloons (33 min)

Atmospheric data gathering and storm development.

10: Wind Shear and Severe Thunderstorms (33 min)

Transforming ordinary storms into dangerous systems.

11: Squall Line Thunderstorms and Microbursts (33 min)

Destructive winds and shelf cloud formations.

12: Supercell Thunderstorms and Hail (31 min)

Earth’s most powerful thunderstorms and massive hail.

13: Tornadoes and Their Amazing Winds (32 min)

Tornado prevalence, myths, and deadly historical cases.

14: Tornadogenesis and Storm Chasing (31 min)

Tornado formation science and chasing safety.

15: Mountain Windstorms and Avalanches (32 min)

Chinook winds, Santa Anas, and snow avalanches.

16: Ice Storms: Freezing Rain Takes Over (31 min)

Supercooled water and freezing rain dangers.

17: Epic Snowfall and the Lake Effect (30 min)

Great Lakes snowstorms and blizzard history.

18: Blizzards and Winter Cyclones (32 min)

Cyclone systems and polar vortex misconceptions.

19: Flash Floods and Deadly Moving Water (31 min)

Coastal, river and flash flood meteorology.

20: Drought, Heat Waves, and Dust Storms (33 min)

Atmospheric conditions creating prolonged droughts.

21: Where Hurricanes Hit (32 min)

Tropical cyclone tracks and naming systems.

22: The Enormous Structure of a Hurricane (32 min)

Hurricane development from African coast disturbances.

23: Storm Surge and Hurricane Intensification (33 min)

Four destructive hurricane factors and high water dangers.

24: El Nino and Cycles of Extreme Weather (41 min)

Pacific warming trends and global weather impacts.