Film Science Questions for Storm of the Century

1. The Earth's atmosphere is a giant weather engine powered by energy from where?

2. Where can we find the most violent weather on Earth?

3. Forecasters have the least success predicting storms of what intensity?

4. What two huge, disastrous storms in 1888 and 1900 caught early forecasters by surprise?

5. a) In the 1930's, what was the key method of collecting weather data?

b) In the 1950's huge computers needed how long to generate a weather forecast for the following 24 hours?

c) Today, what is the main way of getting weather data?

6. What is the basic challenge for forecasters faced with large amounts of weather data?

7. Once a forecast of dangerous conditions has been generated, what is another decision facing weather forecasters, televison and radio stations?

8. Many Floridians who believed the forecasts prepared for the bad weather in what two ways?

9. But, were the predictions of this severe storm taken seriously by all people?

10. In the southern States, temperatures plummeted by how many degrees as the storm system moved through?

11. What was the problem for Floridians with the timing of their severe weather warnings?

12. The storm surge that hit Florida was how high?

13. In cities, what economic class suffered the worst from the wind, snow and cold?

14. Why did some Southerners die in their homes?

15. At the height of the storm, about how many people were without power?

16. Attempts to keep warm with candles and wood stoves sometimes had what result?

17. The snow reached what depth in the Smoky Mountains in the area of the stranded hikers?

18. What was the effect of the storm on the aviation industry across the States?

19. How did people living along the coast north of Florida react to the weather warnings?

20. Powerful seas wrecked how many oceanside homes on Long Island?

21. The storm claimed how many lives?

22. What two types of technology gather data about ocean water temperatures?