Teacher Notes
Maryland Weather (30-35 minutes) > Print/View All Notes
This activity provides real Maryland weather data collected between 2002 and 2012.
Before the activity begins, have students turn to page 9 of their Engineering Portfolios and ask the class to work individually to investigate the data they see. After students have had a chance to look at the data on their own for a few minutes, facilitate a discussion about weather in Maryland. Discuss the terms pattern and trend and ask your students if they see any patterns or trends in the data provided. Some patterns they may notice are that Maryland has experienced at least two heat waves every year; Maryland experiences fewer hurricanes and major snowstorms, with 0-3 every year; and tornadoes are the most variable severe weather event, with anywhere from 0-27 per year.
Chart Answer Key:
|
ﾠ |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tornadoes |
14 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
4 |
27 |
15 |
|
Days of Flooding |
0 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
1 |
|
Major Snowstorms |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hurricanes / Tropical Storms |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Heat Waves |
6 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
13 |
5 |
6 |
|
Total |
20 |
18 |
25 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
15 |
14 |
24 |
40 |
23 |
Data courtesy of Maryland State Climatologist Office
If students need more information about the data, explain the following:
Major snowstorms are defined as those that brought at least 10 inches of snow across the majority of Maryland. Hurricane/tropical storm numbers represent storms named by the National Hurricane Center that continued to retain tropical characteristics when they reached Maryland, with a combination ofﾠsustained broad scale strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge. Heat waves are defined as a stretch of at least three days with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Flooding data represents days above flood stage from USGS flood gages on the Potomac River.
