Describe each of the natural events that commonly affect the United States and Canada. We discussed five of these natural events in this lesson, including tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, blizzards, and hurricanes. Are any of these events common in your region?

Answer:

Tornadoes are rapidly rotating columns of air that extend from thunderstorms to the ground, and they are especially common in the Great Plains and Midwest. Earthquakes occur when movement along faults releases energy in Earth's crust, with many occurring along the West Coast. Volcanic eruptions happen when magma, ash, and gases escape from a volcano, especially in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Blizzards are severe snowstorms with strong winds and low visibility, common in northern areas and the Great Plains. Hurricanes are powerful tropical storms that form over warm ocean water and can affect the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. In my region, the most common of these events are severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes; the others are less common.