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Weather Explained
Got curiosities? We’ve got clouds, pressure systems, and painfully nerdy answers.
This is where weather finally makes sense, no science degree required.


Why can you never reach the end of a rainbow?
It always looks like the end of the rainbow is just over the next hill. But no matter how far you drive, it always stays out of reach. The real reason is one of nature’s most beautiful secrets.

Ric Kearbey
19 hours ago2 min read


Why does the Moon follow your car?
It feels like the Moon is riding beside your car mile after mile. The truth has nothing to do with the Moon moving and everything to do with the incredible way your eyes judge distance.

Ric Kearbey
2 days ago2 min read


Water isn’t blue. So why are lakes?
Water looks clear in a glass, yet entire lakes appear brilliant blue. So what’s going on? The answer has everything to do with sunlight, your eyes, and one fascinating trick of physics.

Marcus Holt
3 days ago2 min read


Why are tornadoes sometimes invisible?
Hollywood taught us to look for a giant black funnel. Real tornadoes don’t always cooperate. Sometimes the most dangerous tornado is the one you barely see, or don’t see at all.

Theo Nash
4 days ago2 min read


Why does the sky turn orange at sunrise and sunset?
Every sunrise and sunset is a masterpiece, but the colors aren’t coming from the Sun itself. The real artist is Earth’s atmosphere, and once you know why, you’ll never look at the sky the same way again.

Ric Kearbey
Jul 12 min read


Why do raindrops stay on your windshield instead of blowing away?
Have you ever watched raindrops cling to your windshield while driving and wondered why the wind doesn’t simply blow them away? The answer is a fascinating mix of physics that’s happening every time you hit the road.

Ric Kearbey
Jun 302 min read


How could Earth have four major earthquakes in just 12 hours?
Four powerful earthquakes struck different parts of the world in about 12 hours. Coincidence? Connected? Or is the Earth trying to tell us something? Here’s what the science says.

Ric Kearbey
Jun 293 min read


Why are clouds flat on the bottom?
Have you ever noticed that fluffy clouds almost always have flat bottoms? It isn’t a coincidence. The answer involves an invisible line in the atmosphere that you’ll never stop noticing once you know it’s there.

Theo Nash
Jun 262 min read


Have you been looking for rainbows in the wrong place?
Rainbows aren’t random. In fact, there’s one simple rule that tells you exactly where to look every time. Once you know it, you’ll never search the sky the same way again.

Dana Solis
Jun 252 min read


Does a green sky really mean a tornado is coming?
Does a green sky really mean a tornado is coming? No. A green sky does not automatically mean a tornado is coming. However, a green sky can be a sign of a powerful thunderstorm containing large amounts of water and sometimes hail. That’s the short answer. The longer answer is much more interesting. The sky turns strange Few weather sights get people’s attention faster than a green sky. The first time you see one, it’s hard to forget. Everything suddenly looks a little off, al

Ric Kearbey
Jun 233 min read


Why does the atmosphere usually save its storms for later in the day?
Ever notice how many summer days start sunny and end stormy? The answer has everything to do with how the atmosphere stores energy throughout the day.

Jules Varner
Jun 222 min read


The birds knew first: How birds sense storms before humans do
Birds often seem to know bad weather is coming before we do. Scientists have discovered they can detect changes in the atmosphere long before dark clouds arrive. Here’s what they know that we don’t.

Ric Kearbey
Jun 193 min read


Why does the moon look bigger near the horizon when it isn’t?
The giant moon rising over the horizon may look enormous, but the moon isn’t actually getting bigger. Here’s why one of nature’s most famous optical illusions fools almost everyone.

Dana Solis
Jun 183 min read


Is it true that tornadoes cannot cross a river?
Can tornadoes cross rivers? Yes, they can. It's one of the most common weather myths in America, especially in river towns, but the atmosphere doesn't care what's flowing below.

Ric Kearbey
Jun 173 min read


Clouds weigh tons. So why don’t they fall?
A large thunderstorm cloud can weigh hundreds of thousands of pounds. So why aren’t clouds crashing into our backyards? The answer is one of weather’s coolest secrets.

Ric Kearbey
Jun 153 min read


The surprising reason rain has a smell
The surprising reason rain has a smell has very little to do with the rain itself. The answer involves microscopic soil bacteria, tiny bursting bubbles, and one of nature’s most fascinating hidden processes.

Marcus Holt
Jun 142 min read


The lightning bolt you never see coming
A blue sky overhead doesn’t always mean you’re safe. Learn how a thunderstorm miles away can launch a dangerous “bolt from the blue” into seemingly sunny skies, and why hearing thunder is all the warning you need. This is the lightning strike you never see coming.

Theo Nash
Jun 113 min read


How Houston’s highways started making clouds
A satellite image over Houston captured something meteorologists rarely see: clouds appearing to follow the city’s major highways. The explanation involves heat, rising air, and a fascinating reminder that the roads we drive every day can sometimes influence the atmosphere above us.

Dana Solis
Jun 92 min read


Your nose knew it was going to rain before the weather app did
Have you ever smelled rain before the first drop fell? The answer involves soil bacteria, plant oils, and even lightning. Here’s the fascinating science behind one of nature’s most familiar scents.

Ric Kearbey
Jun 83 min read


Stop yelling at your meteorologist: Here’s why storms are so hard to track
It’s a three-day weekend, plans are made, and the forecast keeps changing its mind. Here’s why that huge cross-country storm is so frustratingly hard to nail down — and why it’s not anyone’s fault. The setup: a cross-country storm bringing rain, drama and very mixed signals. This is why storms are hard to track A big weather system is crossing the U.S. right now, loaded with Gulf moisture. Southeast: Finally getting rain in drought-stricken areas — but some spots could see fl

Ric Kearbey
Feb 113 min read
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