Love weather? Love trivia? This is the site for you! You will find lots of great weather trivia here, including a fun little quiz. Enjoy!

WEATHER RECORDS 

•  Greatest rainfall in a day: 73.62 inches (RĜunion, Indian Ocean; March 15, 1952)

• Greatest rainfall in a year: 1,041 inches (Assam, India; August 1880-1881)

• World's one minute rainfall record:   July 4, 1956, 1.23 inches of rain fell in Unionville, MD.

• Greatest snowfall in a day: 75.8 inches (Silver Lake, Colorado; April 14-15, 1921)

• Greatest snowfall in a single storm: 189 inches (Mt. Shasta, California; February 13-19, 1959)

• Saratoga Springs, NY greatest snowfall: 58 inches (1888, March 11-14)

• Largest hailstone: 17.5 inches (Coffeyville, Kansas; September 3, 1979) , wieght 1.67 pounds

• Fastest surface wind speed: 231 miles per hour (Mount Washington, New Hampshire; April 12, 1934)

• Fastest tornado winds: 286 miles per hour (Wichita Falls, Texas; April 2, 1958)

• Highest world temperature: 136° F / 58° C, Al Aziziyah, Libya, 13 September, 1922

• Highest USA temperature: 134° F / 56.7° C, Death Valley, California, 10 July, 1913
  (neither 140° F / 60° C at Delta Mexico 8/1933 or 136.4° F / 58° C at San Luis Mexico, 8/11/1933 are internationally accepted)

• Lowest world temperature: -128.6°F / -89.6°C, Vostok Station, Antarctica, 21 July 1983--without windchill.

• Lowest world temperature in inhabited area: -90.4° F / -68° C, Oymyakon, Siberia (pop. 4,000), 6 February, 1933 and also at Verkhoyansk, Siberia, 3 January, 1885.

• Lowest USA temperature: -79.8° F / -62.1° C, Prospect Creek, Alaska, 23 January, 1971.

• Lowest USA (48 contiguous states) temperature: -69.7° F / -56.5° C, Rogers Pass, Montana, 20 January, 1954.

• Lowest Northern Hemisphere Temperature: -81°F /-62.78°C; Snag, Yukon Territory(Canada); 2 February, 1947.

• Fastest tornado winds: 286 miles per hour (Wichita Falls, Texas; April 2, 1958).

• Longest tornado path:  293 miles on the ground, 1917,  traveled from Missouri to Indiana.

FUN WEATHER FACTS

The amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface is 6,000 times the amount of energy used by all human beings worldwide. The total amount of fossil fuel used by humans since the start of civilization is equivalent to less than 30 days of sunshine.

The summer of 1995 was so hot that at the end of August, methane emitted within big bales of freshly-cut hay in Missouri began spontaneously combusting.

Only two states have record highs no greater than 100 degrees. These are Alaska and Hawaii.

Tree crickets are called the poor man's thermometer because temperature directly affects their rate of activity. Count the number of chirps a cricket makes in 15 seconds, then add 37. The sum will be very close to the outside temperature!

How far away is lightning? During a storm, count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, then divide by two. The answer reveals how many miles away the lightning is.

What causes a red sun? The red or orange color of the rising or setting sun is caused by the increased distance through our atmosphere its rays must pass before reaching our eyes. Our thick impurity-laden lower atmosphere only allows the red tones to pass through it. As the sun rises higher in the sky, its light passes through a shorter distance of thick atmosphere. It loses its redder tone and takes on its characteristic yellow color.  

How fast do raindrops fall? Not including wind-driven rain, raindrops fall between 7 and 18 miles per hour (3 and 8 meters per second) in still air. The range in speed depends on the the size of the raindrop. Air friction breaks up raindrops when they exceed 18 miles per hour. 

Can lightning strike twice in the same place? Yes! The old adage of lightning never striking twice in the same place is totally false. Lightning is not limited to a one-bolt action. Many lightning flashes are of a multiple variety and may strike repeatedly in a few seconds. Up to 22 consecutive lightning strokes have been observed in a multiple flash.

WEATHER QUIZ

Test your knowledge with these 10 questions. Answers can be found by scrolling down the page.

1) Which is safest during a tornado?
     a) Inside a car
     b) Under an overpass
     c) In a ditch
     d) Under a tree

2) Which kills more people every year?
     a) Lightning
     b) Floods
     c) Tornadoes
     d) Hurricanes

3) Which type of cloud is highest in the atmosphere?
     a) Cirrus
     b) Altostratus
     c) Cumulus
     d) Nimbostratus

4) Which type of cloud is most likely to produce rain?
     a) Cirrus
     b) Altocumulus
     c) Cirrostratus
     d) Cumulus

5) Which type of cloud produces lightning?
     a) Altostratus
     b) Cumulonimbus
     c) Cirrocumulus
     d) Nimbus

6) Which time of day is the best for tornado development?
     a) 6:00am - 10:00am
     b) 8:00pm - midnight
     c) 3:00pm - 6:00pm
     d) Noon - 4:00pm

7) True or false: Tornadoes do not form in temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

8) True or false: A tornado that forms over water is called a Waterdevil.

9) True or false: Cold air is heavier than warm air.

10) For golf-ball sized hail, a storms updraft must be:
      a) 70 mph
      b) 20 mph
      c) 50 mph
      d) Does not need an updraft.

Answers: C; B; A; D; B; C; False; False; True; A

9 or 10 right - You must be a meteorologist!
7 or 8 right - You know your stuff!
5 or 6 right - Not bad, keep learning!
3 or 4 right - Don't quit your day job!
Less than 3 - Well, anyway...