Severe weather - Definition and Overview

Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous.

Examples include:

• drought
• heat wave

• thunderstorm
• blizzard
• ice storm

• arctic cyclone
• cyclone (also called a hurricane, typhoon or windstorm)
• monsoon
• tornado (also referred to as a whirlwind or twister)

Phenomena caused by severe weather include:

• flood
• forest fire
• landslide, mudslide
• avalanche
• derecho

See also extreme weather, meteorology.