Weather Vocabulary

Word Definition Image

wind the perceptible natural movement of the 

air, especially in the form of a current of 
air blowing from a particular direction.

anemometer an instrument for measuring the speed of 

the wind, or of any current of gas.

atmospheric the pressure exerted by the weight of the 

pressure atmosphere, which at sea level has a 
mean value of 101,325 pascals (roughly 
14.6959 pounds per square inch).

density degree of consistency measured 

by the quantity of mass per unit 
volume. 

sea level the level of the sea's surface, used in 

reckoning the height of geographical 
features such as hills and as a barometric 
standard.
barometer an instrument measuring atmospheric 
pressure, used especially in forecasting 
the weather and determining altitude.

convection cell a self-contained convective zone in a fluid 

in which upward motion of warmer fluid 
in the center is balanced by downward 
motion of cooler fluid at the periphery.

prototype  
a first, typical or preliminary model 
of something, especially a 
machine, from which other forms 
are developed or copied. 

dew point the atmospheric temperature (varying 

according to pressure and humidity) 
below which water droplets begin to 
condense and dew can form.

dew tiny drops of water that form on cool 

surfaces at night, when atmospheric 
vapor condenses.
water cycle the cycle of processes by which 
water circulates between the 
earth's oceans, atmosphere, and 
land, involving precipitation as rain 
and snow, drainage in streams 
and rivers, and return to the 
atmosphere by evaporation and 
transpiration. 

ground water water held underground in the soil or in 

pores and crevices in rock.

transpiration the exhalation of water vapor through the 

stomata.

evaporation the process of turning from liquid into 

vapor.
absolute the measure of water vapor in the air, 
humidity regardless of temperature

relative the amount of water vapor present in air 

humidity expressed as a percentage of the amount 
needed for saturation at the same 
temperature.

crystallization the formation of a solid structure whose

atoms or molecules are arranged in a
repeating, three-dimensional pattern

precipitation rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the 

ground.

stationary front a front between warm and cold air

masses that is moving very slowly or
not at all.

warm front the boundary of an advancing mass of 

warm air, in particular the leading edge of 
the warm sector of a low-pressure 
system.
occluded front a composite front produced by occlusion.

cold front the boundary of an advancing 

mass of cold air, in particular the 
trailing edge of the warm sector of 
a low-pressure system.

weather front The boundary between two

masses of air of different density
and/or temperature

air mass a body of air with horizontally 

uniform temperature, humidity, 
and pressure. 
 

Low pressure High in the atmosphere, air pressure 

system decreases. ... low pressure system 
has lower pressure at its center than 
the areas around it. Winds blow 
towards the low pressure, and the air 
rises in the atmosphere where they 
meet. As the air rises, the water vapor 
within it condenses forming clouds 
and often precipitation too.
High pressure  
system Places where a ​ ir pressure​ is ​high​ are 
called ​high pressure​ systems. A low 
pressure​ system has lower ​pressure 
at its center than the areas around it. 
Winds blow towards the low ​pressure​, 
and the ​air​ rises in the atmosphere 
where they meet.

isobar a line on a map connecting points having 

the same atmospheric pressure at a given 
time or on average over a given period.

severe A ​severe thunderstorm​ warning is 

thunderstorm issued by the National Weather 
Service when trained s ​ torm​ spotters 
or Doppler weather radar indicate that 
a t​ hunderstorm​ is producing or will 
soon produce dangerously large hail 
or high winds, capable of causing 
significant damage.

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blizzard a severe snowstorm with high winds and 

low visibility.
Heat index a measure indicating the level of 
discomfort the average person is 
thought to experience as a result 
of the combined effects of the 
temperature and humidity of the 
air. 

Heat wave a prolonged period of abnormally hot 

weather.

tornado a mobile, destructive vortex of violently 

rotating winds having the appearance of a 
funnel-shaped cloud and advancing 
beneath a large storm system.

hurricane a storm with a violent wind, in particular a 

tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.