Natural Disasters

1. a long period of dry weather
4. an overflowing of water in a normally dry area
5. a giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor
8. a rapidly whirling, funnel- shaped cloud that reaches down to touch earth’s surface
11. a slide of a large mass of dirt and rock down a mountain or cliff
14. a large fire that spreads quickly over a natural area
15. eruption the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material

2. a storm with small balls of ice that fall like rain
3. a heavy snowstorm with strong winds
6. the shaking that results from the movement of rock beneath earth’s surface
7. cyclone a severe storm with high winds that spiral around a calm center
9. a small storm often accompanied by heavy precipitation and frequent thunder and lightning
10. great mass of falling snow and ice
12. a windstorm that blows hot air, dust, and grit
13. a circular depression formed when the proof of a cave collapses