Storms are an important part of weather. Storms can produce hard rain, blowing snow, large hail, or damaging winds. There are different kinds of storms. Let us start with a…

Storms are an important part of weather. Storms can produce hard rain, blowing snow, large hail, or damaging winds. There are different kinds of storms. Let us start with a blizzard (метель, пурга, снежная буря). It is a heavy snowstorm with very strong cold winds that can be blinding. A blizzard happens in the winter, when very cold air from the Arctic moves south and meets warmer air. In the result a blizzard starts. It has blowing snow and makes it difficult for people to drive or walk anywhere. If a blizzard is coming, it is better to stay indoors. Another storm is a hurricane, which starts over the ocean. The winds get faster and heavy clouds are formed. First, the hurricane grows, it can be hundreds of miles wide and last days or weeks. But finally it gets weaker and disappears. Hurricanes form between June and December, but they occur most often in September. They usually happen along the Atlantic Coast or in the Gulf of Mexico. In hurricane season, the weather service keeps a close watch. If a storm starts, warnings are sent out so that people in the area can go indoors or leave town, waiting for the storm to pass. Every hurricane gets a name. The first storm of the year gets a person’s name that starts with the letter A. The second storm gets the letter B. Each storm that year gets a name beginning with a new letter of the alphabet. One of the strongest windstorms of all is a tornado. It typically starts on a hot, cloudy afternoon. A tornado is formed when dry air from the north meets wet air from the south, causing dark clouds to form. The dark clouds start to change at the bottom, and a funnellike shape forms. This funnel grows until it reaches the ground, and then it starts to travel. Tornadoes hit mostly in the Midwest of the USA, but they can also occur in other areas of the country. Usually tornadoes occur in spring or in summer. The storm usually does not last long, and the funnel soon disappears or moves on. People are advised to stay in a cellar (подвальное помещение) and wait until the storm is over. There are other types of storms, too, which add beauty and excitement to our lives. A snowstorm brings billions of snowflakes. When they are examined, no two are exactly alike. Each tiny snowflake has its own shape and beauty. Almost everyone has awakened during a thunderstorm in the middle of the night. The noisy thunder and the bright lightning startle and excite spectators. There are gentle rainstorms, too. When people hear the soft sounds of quiet falling rain, they often feel peaceful. Sometimes a rainbow appears in the sky as an enormous arch of colored stripes. To sum up, there are many kinds of storms. Some of them are destructive, others bring a simple beauty to us. All the same, storms of all kinds are a part of our lives.True ? False ? Not stated? Disasters are an important part of weather. A blizzard has blowing snow and makes it difficult for people to drive or walk anywhere.  Hurricanes usually happen along the Atlantic Coast or in the Gulf of Mexico. In hurricane season people in the area cant go indoors or leave town. Hurricanes get a names the letter A and the letter B. A tornado is formed when dry air from the north meets wet air from the south. Tornadoes occur the all year round.  A snowstorm brings billions of snowflakes. A thunderstorm its a noisy thunder and the bright lightning. Many kinds of storms are destructive, others bring a simple beauty to us.