Extreme weather is an unexpected, uncommon, unpredictable, or unseasonal weather event, such as any storm – a blizzard, freezing rain, an ice storm, a hurricane, a thunderstorm, a tornado, heavy rain or lack of rain. Very often extreme weather events can cause natural disasters: an avalanche, black ice, a drought, a flood, a heatwave and a wildfire. Avalanches occur after a heavy snowfall in the mountains. Black ice happens after an ice storm, or freezing rain. Droughts occur after a long period of very hot weather and lack of rain. Floods are caused by downpours – very heavy rain that falls quickly. A heatwave is extremely hot and dry weather lasting for a long time. Wildfires start as a result of continuous hot weather and lack of rain.
Extreme weather and natural disasters often cause serious damage to the economy of a whole country, to an individual person or to the environment. They disrupt all spheres of life and work. Natural disasters also result in injures, loss of life or other health impacts, such as disease and epidemics.