edHelper.com
Weather

Storms

Storms
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 7 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.5

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    Baum, microburst, multicell, supercell, supercells, squall, categorize, hazardous, possibility, immense, southeastern, visibility, power, fierce, possible, travels
     content words:    Great Lakes, New England

Print Storms
edHelper.com subscriber options:
     Print Storms  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)
     Quickly print reading comprehension
     Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on Storms
     Leave your feedback on Storms  (use this link if you found an error in the story)

Storms
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     Dorothy had a bit of a problem. A tornado had lifted up Dorothy and her little dog Toto and carried them to the strange land of Oz. Tornadoes are like that; they cause problems wherever they go. So do other types of storms, like thunderstorms and blizzards.
 
2     One way to categorize storms is into two groups, summer storms and winter storms. Summer storms include several types of thunderstorms and tornadoes. Winter storms include blizzards, ice storms, lake effect storms, and the fierce nor'easters.
 
3     There are three main types of thunderstorms: single cells, multicell clusters, and multicell lines called squall lines. Single cell thunderstorms are the common everyday kind. They usually last from 20 to 30 minutes, and include downpours of rain, possible hail, thunder, and lightning. They are not the most dangerous type, but one danger from single cell storms is the possibility of a microburst. A microburst is a sudden burst of high wind that is especially dangerous to airplane pilots. Multicell clusters and squall lines are bigger storms that are more dangerous because they are larger and can last longer. One danger from any type of thunderstorm is the lightning. Lightning causes hundreds of deaths and millions of dollars in property damage each year. Another danger is the possibility of flash flooding. Flash floods are weather's biggest killer.

Paragraphs 4 to 10:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable
Copyright © 2008 edHelper