Question: why is the weather so bad comin up to summer?

Sara Imari Walker answered on 17 Jun 2011:

Hi coleymurphy. Hmmmm, interesting question. I am not entirely certain, but my best guess is that it is because of the changing temperatures. Storms are usually caused by very cold air interacting with very warm air (this is why you may sometimes hear the weather reports say a “cold front” or “warm front” is moving in). The difference in temperature causes differences in air pressure in the atmosphere. A storm typically originates when a low pressure system is surrounded by a high pressure system. Hot air rises, an when hot air collides with cold air, the hot air is forced up over the colder, drier air. When this warmer air is displaced upwards, it causes surface air pressure to drop, in effect causing a chain reaction – more cold air rushes in to fill the low pressure area, forcing more warm air upwards and on and on. The turbulence of this process causes some nasty weather. So, my guess is its because summer is warm that we have bad weather going in! This question really gets you thinking though. Great job!!