Weather Websites for Educators        

PRECIPITATION

RAIN FORMATION

Encyclopedia.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/rain.aspx

This site has several sections. First the definition of rain, to formation of droplets, measurement, distribution and even how rainfall has been portrayed in different religions from flood to droughts. (Grades 5-8)

HAIL

Hail Formation, The Weather Doctor
www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/elements/hailform.htm

SNOW

SnowCrystals.com
http://www.snowcrystals.com

If nothing else, for the photography! It is an excellent site for snowflakes, and how they form. It has “Snowflake Physics”, “Snowflake Activities” and more. (Grades 6-10)

GENERAL WEATHER EDUCATION

JetStream, National Weather Service Online Weather School
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/matrix.htm
This site is super for the educator! It is from the NWS. What more can you ask for? (Grades 6-12)

iWeatherNet
http://www.iweathernet.com/
This site was founded by an excellent meteorologist who worked for the National Hurricane Center, and later as a forecaster for the NWS in Fort Worth, TX.  This site contains some great weather resources as well as several educational articles and safety tips.

SciJinks
http://scijinks.jpl.nasa.gov/
Who knew weather could be so fun?  The NOAA/NASA SciJinks website, designed for middle-school students, has exciting and accessible content, games and multimedia.

NASA's Climate Kids
http://climatekids.nasa.gov/
NASA's Climate Kids website, targeting grades 4-6, de-mystifies global climate change science using simple illustrations, humor, interactivity, and age-appropriate language.

The Weather Doctor
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/doctor.htm

American Meteorological Society DataStreme
http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/dstreme/
If you (the teacher) have not taken the DataStreme course, it is well worth your time! Maps, activities, guides, daily weather summary and historical weather, you name it, it is here. Current maps are designed for the educator to use as overlays or transparencies. They are the leaders in weather education.

OTHER

ATMOSPHERIC OPTICS

Atmospheric Optics
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/

This site is awesome!  Check out their Optics Pic of the Day!

LIGHTNING

A Lightning Primer, Global Hydrology Resource Center

This site is GREAT! It site shows the history of lightning research, tells the different types of lightning, how it forms, lightning and aircraft, plus lightning safety and much more!