Weather Trivia

Rainy Weekends

On the East coast, weekends really are wetter than week days. Climatologists at Arizona State University analyzed precipitation data back to 1946. They found that Saturdays are 22% rainier than Mondays. The reason is probably because of pollution from factories and commuting. The pollution builds during the week, which increases the change of rain. Then after two days of relief, the weather clears on Monday.

Coldest City

In Butte, Montana, the temperature drops below freezing an average of 223 days a year. This is more than any other city in the lower 48 states.

Lightening

A bolt of lightening killed 11 players of one soccer team in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The other team was untouched. The survivors of the team that was struck accused the other team of witchcraft.

Eighty five percent of people killed by lightening are male. That is probably because women are smart enough not to stay (or go) outside when it lightening.

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

The US has about 100,000 thunderstorms a year. They cause about 1,000 tornadoes. According to the National Weather Service, about 42 people are killed each year by tornadoes.

Fastest Wind

The fastest wind speed ever recorded was on May 3, 1999 in Oklahoma when three tornadoes hit.

Groundhog Day

On Groundhog Day, for the last 60 years, Punxsutawney Pete has only been correct with his prediction 28% of the time.

Rain Predictor

Pine cones can be used to predict the weather. If rain is coming, they will close.