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Scales of Motion -
Several cyclones can be seen in this animation. Extratropical cyclones can cover an area almost as large as a
third of the continental United States. These are the parent storms of many types of severe weather.
Note that during the animation Hurricane Isabel (2003) forms in the Atlantic Ocean and approaches the eastern coast of the United States.
Tropical cyclones are normally much smaller in area than extratropical cyclones, but can have much stronger winds and lower central
pressures.
Thunderstorms appear in many locations on the animation. For example, on September 16 thunderstorms develop in otherwise clear
conditions over the Nebraska/Oklahoma border. Thunderstorms are much smaller
than cyclones. Nevertheless, these storms can produce extremely destructive weather, including tornadoes, strong straight-line winds,
lightning, hail, and flash floods.
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