Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [weather]

The state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy.

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If the viewable part of lightning goes from the ground up, why does it look like lightning goes from the sky down?

According to here, it seems like the visible portion of lightning comes from the ground up; however I watched some slow motion YouTube videos, and it is clear that the lightning appears to be traveling downwards. Also here it claims the visible part…
Celeritas
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Is the weather particularly bad in England?

There's a well-known claim that weather is particularly rainy in England. In the UK, a country known for its bad weather and lack of sunshine, there appears to be an ever increasing number of very tanned young people. —Sunbeds Is it true that…
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Are storms getting more or less severe in the long term for Australia?

Over the past couple of years people have been claiming that storms are getting more severe in Australia. Some linking this to global warming. Specifically Professor Ross Garnaut in the opening paragraph of his first in a series of eight updates of…
going
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Do cyclones or hurricanes form near the equator?

I'm a pretty intelligent guy (I like to think) and I work with a pretty intelligent guy. Today, I said cyclones can't form close to the equator, thinking cyclones need the Coriolis effect. He was quite adament that they could and sent me…
Coomie
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Can changes in weather cause pain or increased pain?

Possible Duplicate: Do weather changes affect arthritis? A common claim is that changes in weather (e.g. low pressure system, colder, damper, etc.) can cause pain or increased pain. This often comes up in the context of old injuries (e.g. "My old…
rjzii
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Is there a strip of land in China with unusual temperature properties?

From this source: In 1985 the Chinese press announced the discovery of a strip of land 1,000 metres by 15 metres, running down from a hill to a river, in Huanre County, Liaoning province. In winter when the surrounding temperature dips to…
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Does drinking hot beverages on a hot day make a person feel cooler?

Possible Duplicate: Is drinking hot water more beneficial during hot weather? Over the years I've heard from various people that drinking hot beverages on a hot day will make you feel cooler. For instance, in this clip from the TV series Cheers…
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Is it always snowing somewhere (on earth)?

Today I read on a give-away pen the slogan "It is always snowing somewhere". I don't believe this, but found it a bit hard to prove this wrong.. I found this on google, a quote from "Winter Weather Expert" Paul Kocin. Because there are always some…
Rob Audenaerde
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Are these clouds being engineered by chemtrails?

Look-up.org.uk claim there is a conspiracy to alter the weather via chemicals injected into the atmosphere by commercial airliners. One reason given is to hamper solar power energy production because of the Oil industry etc. We firmly believe that…
user35244
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Does this video show a very localised rain shower falling on one spot?

This video has been doing the rounds* for the past couple of weeks, claiming it's a very local rain shower. I find it hard to believe. A broken water mains or a geyser seems more likely. But the video perspective is not that you can say 'obviously…
user22865
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Is assuming that tomorrow's weather will be the same as today a good model?

I heard people say that assuming tomorrow's weather will be the same as today's is as good as, or better, than meteorological models. This book says people assume is the best way This site claims that it's 40% accurate. Has anyone tested the…
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Do lakes and seaside areas have less snow? Why?

A friend claimed that areas near lakes or the sea have less snow, a theory she heard on a visit to Lancaster, England, which is near the Lake District as well as the Irish Sea and so would feel the effect of this phenomenon. I’ve reviewed the…
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Has climate change measurably increased the likelihood of tropical storms such as Haiyan?

The recent extreme tropical storm Haiyan has brought the relationship between cyclones and climate change back into the newspaper headlines. This recent headline from Britain's Daily Mirror suggests the link is clear: Typhoon Haiyan: As climate…
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Does Gilbraltar affect the weather in its climatological/meteorological neighbourhood?

When I was in Gilbraltar a few years ago, several locals of both Spain and Gibraltar commented on the fact that the peninsula has a weather system distinct from the areas around it, and that the peninsula had an effect on the weather patterns of the…
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Can current flooding in California end the years-long drought?

California has been stricken by severe drought for years now, to the point that the governor has been required to mandate water rationing. In an Accuweather piece about the storm currently ravaging the west coast of the US, senior meteorologist Alex…
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