Welcome to the 博体育 Sioux Falls Education Page!
Education is a key component toward meeting our mission of protecting lives and property, so we designed this page to provide educational resources for teachers, parents, and aspiring meteorologists. We hope these materials increase your awareness and understanding of weather science, preparedness, and safety.
As we progress throughout the year, we plan to add videos to our Experiments tab, so check back routinely for updates!
Enjoy this website? Have a topic you would like us to add? We would love to hear from you!
Please provide any feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. to w-fsd.webmaster@noaa.gov
Clouds / Atmosphere
The atmosphere surrounds the Earth and holds the air we breathe; it protects us from outer space; and holds moisture (clouds), gases, and tiny particles. In short, the atmosphere is the protective bubble in which we live. Refer to the resources below to learn about clouds, the different layers of the atmosphere, and processes that occur within the atmosphere!
Clouds
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博体育 JetStream: Clouds (Website) |
博体育 JetStream: Full Cloud Chart (26" x 11" Chart .pdf) |
博体育 JetStream: Cloud Altitudes (8 1/2" x 11" Chart .pdf) |
博体育 JetStream: Cloud Chart (11 x 17" Chart .pdf) |
Atmosphere
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博体育 JetStream: Atmosphere
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博体育 JetStream: Atmosphere Layers (Website)
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博体育 JetStream: Heat Energy
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博体育 JetStream: Water Cycle
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Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are most common in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening hours, but they can occur year-round and at all hours. Refer to the resources below to learn how thunderstorms form, what makes them severe, and how you can keep you and your family safe!
Thunderstorms / Lightning
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SciJinks: What Causes (Video) |
SciJinks: What Causes (Image) |
博体育 JetStream: Thunderstorms |
NSSL: Severe Weather 101 -Thunderstorms (Website) |
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SciJinks in a Snap: (Video) |
CDC: Lightning (Website) |
博体育: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning - A Preparedness Guide (20-page PDF) |
FEMA: Be Prepared for Thunderstorms, Lightning, Hail (2-page PDF) |
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博体育: Thunderstorm Safety
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博体育: Lightning Safety
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Owlie Skywarn: Lightning Coloring/Activity Book (7-page PDF) |
Leon the Lightning Safety Lion Coloring Book (8-page PDF) |
Wind
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SciJinks: Why does Wind Blow? (Website) |
SciJinks: What is a Gust Front? (Website) |
博体育 JetStream: Derechos (Website) |
博体育: Wind Safety (Website) |
Hail
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博体育 JetStream: Hail |
NSSL: Severe Weather 101 - Hail |
博体育: The Science of Hail |
博体育: How to Report Hail Size |
Tornadoes
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Tornadoes are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. Refer to the resources below to learn how tornadoes form, and how you can keep you and your family safe!
Tornadoes
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SciJinks: How Do Tornadoes Form? (Website) |
SciJinks: What Causes a Tornado? (Video) |
博体育 JetStream: Tornadoes |
NSSL: Severe Weather 101 -Tornadoes (Website) |
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博体育: Tornado Safety |
博体育: Get Weather Ready - Before a Tornado? |
博体育: Get Weather Ready - During a Tornado |
博体育: Tornado Safety for You and Your Family |
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FEMA: Be Prepared for a Tornado |
FEMA: When the Storm Comes |
CDC: Be Ready! Tornadoes |
博体育: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning - A Preparedness Guide |
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Owlie Skywarn: Tornadoes Coloring/Activity Book |
NSSL: Prepare for the Storm! |
CDC: My Family Communication Plan |
CDC: Backpack Emergency Card |
Flooding
Flooding occurs in every U.S. state and territory, and is a threat experienced anywhere in the world that receives rain. In fact, flooding kills more people each year in the U.S. than tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning. Refer to the resources below to learn what causes floods, and how you can keep you and your family safe!
Terminology
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Flash Flood vs. Flood (Image) |
What is a FloodPlain? (Image) |
Spring Flood Factors (Image) |
What is a 100-Year Flood? (Image) |
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Flood Severity Categories
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What is a River Stage? |
Types of River Gauges |
How to Read a Hydrograph |
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What is a River Crest?
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What is an Ice Jam? |
What is Streamflow? |
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Safety/Preparedness
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SciJinks: What Causes a Flood?
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博体育 JetStream: Flash Floods
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NSSL: Severe Weather 101 -Floods (Website) |
博体育: Flood Safety |
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博体育: Flood Safety for You and Your Family |
FEMA: Be Prepared for a Flood |
FEMA: When the Clouds Form |
Owlie Skywarn: Flooding |
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are among nature's most powerful and destructive phenomena. The primary hazards from hurricanes include storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, high surf, and rip currents. Refer to the resources below to learn how hurricanes form, and how you can keep you and your family safe!
Hurricanes
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SciJinks: How Does a Hurricane Form? |
SciJinks: How Does a Hurricane Form? |
博体育 JetStream: Tropical Weather |
National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Climatology |
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National Hurricane Center: Overview of the National Hurricane Center |
博体育: Hurricane Safety |
FEMA: Hurricanes |
FEMA: Be Prepared for a Hurricane |
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NOAA's National Ocean Service: Get Weather Ready - During a Hurricane |
NOAA's National Ocean Service: Get Weather Ready - After a Hurricane |
博体育: Introduction to Storm Surge |
Owlie Skywarn: Hurricane |
Winter
Winter storms can bring snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the entire United States and its territories. In some cases the temperature can drop over 50 degrees in a matter of hours. Refer to the resources below to learn how winter storms form, and how you can keep you and your family safe!
Winter
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SciJinks: How Does Snowflakes Form? |
NSSL: Severe Weather 101 -Winter Weather |
博体育: Winter Weather Safety for You and Your Family |
博体育: Winter Safety |
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博体育 JetStream: Wind Chill |
博体育: Wind Chill Chart |
博体育: Wind Chill Brochure |
博体育: Cold Weather Safety |
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博体育: Winter Driving Preparedness |
博体育: Winter Storms - The Deceptive Killers |
FEMA: When the Sky Turns Gray |
FEMA: Snowstorms and Extreme Cold |
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FEMA: Be Prepared for a Winter Storm |
Red Cross: Winter Storm Safety |
博体育: Dressing for Cold Weather |
Owlie Skywarn: Winter Storms |
Heat/Drought
Refer to the resources below to learn what causes periods of extreme heat, droughts, and how you can keep you and your family safe!
Heat/Drought
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博体育: Heat Safety for You and Your Family |
博体育: Heat Index Chart |
博体育: Heat Safety |
National Safety Council: Children in Hot Cars |
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FEMA: Extreme Heat |
FEMA: Be Prepared for Extreme Heat |
CDC: Extreme Heat |
CDC: Heat-Related Illnesses |
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National Integrated Drought Information System: Drought Monitor by State |
CoCoRaHS HQ: Assessing Drought in the United States |
博体育: Drought Safety |
National Drought Mitigation Center: Drought for Kids |
Fire
A wildfire is an unplanned fire that burns in a natural area such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. Refer to the resources below to learn how wildfires spread, and how you can keep you and your family safe!
Fire
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SciJinks: How Do Wildfires Spread? |
SciJinks: How Do Wildfires Spread? |
博体育: Wildfire Safety for You and Your Family |
博体育: Wildfire Safety |
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FEMA: Wildfires |
FEMA: When the Fire Starts |
FEMA: Be Prepared for a Wildfire |
Red Cross: Wild Fire Safety Checklist |
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National Fire Protection Association: Public Education Teaching Tools |
National Fire Protection Association: Sparky School House |
Smokey For Kids |
U.S. Fire Administration: Let's Have Fun With Fire Safety Coloring Book |
Climate
The earth's tilt, rotation and land/sea distribution affect the global weather patterns we observe. While the weather varies from day-to-day at any particular location, over the years, the same type of weather will reoccur. The reoccurring "average weather" found in any particular place is called climate. Refer to the resources below to learn more about climate!
Climate
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SciJinks: What Are the Different Climate Types? |
SciJinks: What's the Difference Between Weather and Climate? |
博体育 JetStream: Climate Zones |
博体育 JetStream: Köppen-Geiger Climate Subdivisions |
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博体育 JetStream: El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) |
博体育: What is El Niño and La Niña? |
NOAA: U.S. Climate Regions |
博体育: Climate Prediction Center |
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博体育: Climate Outlooks |
博体育: Climate Variability vs. Climate Change
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博体育: Climate Really Can Be Elementary! |
NASA: Climate Kids |
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Many of us are familiar with the “screech” of an incoming severe weather alert on our TV’s, radio’s and telephones. These alerts provide valuable and life-saving information about severe weather when it threatens your location. But, what if you couldn’t hear it? An emergency or disaster may present unique challenges for people with hearing disabilities. If you or someone you care for has a hearing disability, the 博体育 has taken efforts to ensure our warnings and alerts can be received and the proper preparations and actions undertaken.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
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博体育: Weather Safety Information for Deaf and Hard of Hearing |
博体育: Know Your Location and Seasonal Weather |
博体育: Receiving Weather Alerts and Preparedness Plan Tips |
博体育: Severe Thunderstorm Safety |
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博体育: Lightning Safety |
博体育: Tornado Safety |
博体育: Flood and Flash Flood Safety |
NewHanoverCo: Rip Current Safety |
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博体育: Specialized Weather Radios |
博体育: Wireless Emergency Alerts |
博体育: Laptop and Desktop Alerts |
FEMA: Emergency Safety Kits |
Additional Information
Intellectual Disabilities
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博体育: Weather Safety Materials for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities |
博体育: Weather-Ready Nation |
博体育: Lightning Safety |
FEMA: Tornado Safety |
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博体育: Flood Safety |
博体育: Wildfire Safety |
博体育: Heat Safety |
博体育: Cold Safety |
Spanish
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博体育 Sioux Falls Spanish Page |
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Experiments
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Media use of 博体育 Web News Stories is encouraged! Please acknowledge the 博体育 as the source of any news information accessed from this site. |
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