CAPE - An important term used to describe how unstable the atmosphere is. CAPE is an acronym for Convective Available Potential Energy. CAPE is a measure of potential energy in the atmosphere. The greater the CAPE is, the stronger a thunderstorm will be if one develops. The presence of CAPE alone does not mean thunderstorms will develop, as other factors must be overcome for the energy potential to be realized.

Steam Fog - The name for fog that is produced due to cold air mixing with warmer and more humid air. The most common setup for steam fog is when cold air drifts across warm water. The first cold air masses of the season that drift across lakes and rivers will often result in the creation of steam fog.

Hiver - Hiver is the French word for winter.

Brontophobia - This phobia is defined as the irrational fear of thunder. For those who suffer, it creates high anxiety even though the thunder may pose no real threat to them.

Glory - An optical phenomena that consists of colorful rings that appear around the shadow of an object when the shadow is cast onto a cloud deck below the objects elevation. A glory consists of violet coloring on the inner portion, while a reddish tint is seen on the outer edge. An airplane that casts a shadow on a cloud deck below it can create a glory that can be seen by passengers in the plane.

Drought - An extended period of abnormally dry weather that creates shortfalls in the amount of surface and/or subsurface water. Droughts have major impacts on agriculture and can have major socioeconomic consequences as well.

Radar Echo - What meteorologists refer to when diagnosing radio waves that are reflected back to the radar antenna. This occurs when the radio waves emitted by the radar run into precipitation as well as non-weather related phenomenon such as insects. The radar translates the returned signal into a visual display showing the radar echoes position from the radar site.