Computer Model - A system of computers which run complex physics equations on meteorological data to produce mathematical forecasts. Forecast models are first initialized with the current conditions in the atmosphere, and then thru a series of complex algorithms, they model what will be happening anywhere from 12 to 180 hours from the current time. There are several computer models that meteorologists utilize in predicting the weather.

Scintillation - The apparent twinkling of a star due to its light passing through regions of differing air densities in the atmosphere. This results in the light being refracted and scattered before it reaches the viewer.

Lilapsophobia - This is the fear of tornadoes/hurricanes. People that have lived through the occurrence of a severe hurricane or tornado are most susceptible to this phobia.

Windsock - A large, conical, open bag that is designed to indicate wind direction and relative speed. They are commonly seen at small airports.

Ice Pellets - Ice pellets are small, translucent balls of ice that are also known as sleet. Ice pellets form when falling snow encounters a region of above freezing air and melts or partially melts into raindrops and then refreezes as it encounters sub-freezing air near the surface. Ice pellets tend to bounce when they hit the ground.

Sundog - A colored luminous spot produced by refraction of light through ice crystals. Sun dogs are seen as bright spots that appear on either side of the sun. This optical phenomenon is also referred to as parhelion. They are most commonly seen during the winter season.

Radar Echo - What meteorologists refer to when diagnosing radio waves that are reflected back to the radar antenna. This occurs when the radio waves emitted by the radar run into precipitation as well as non-weather related phenomenon such as insects. The radar translates the returned signal into a visual display showing the radar echoes position from the radar site.