Tag Archives: weather books

Best books to give to the weather enthusiast

Today we’ll take a look at some of the best books out there for the weather enthusiast in your life as well as for kids interested in learning more about the weather.
Today we’ll take a look at some of the best books out there for the weather enthusiast in your life as well as for kids interested in learning more about the weather.

Weather-related gifts for the “weather geek” in your life abound.  From books to increase ones knowledge of weather to personal weather stations and even clothes and novelties all make great gifts this holiday season.  Today we’ll take a look at some of the best books out there for the weather enthusiast in your life as well as for kids interested in learning more about the weather. 

ThorntonWeather.com’s top four weather books for the weather enthusiast

Colorado Weather Almanac – Written by Mike Nelson of Denver’s KMGH channel 7, this is the definitive book about Colorado weather.  Everything from how our geography impacts the weather in Colorado to historical weather information to storm chasing is covered.  This is highly recommended.  Click here to read my full review of the book.

The Weather Book: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to the USA’s Weather – By Jack Williams of USA Today, this covers the entire gamut of weather phenomena and conditions all with the beautiful illustrations USA Today’s weather section is famous for.  This easy to read book is a great one for those wanting to learn more about the weather but it also has plenty of in depth information for even those already well versed on the basics. 

Weather: The Ultimate Book of Meteorological Events – This newly released hardcover book has some of the most beautiful (and scary) photos you will ever see of weather events.  Accompanied by essays from meteorology and climate change experts, book has 20 years worth of photos of significant weather events.  Also included are U.S. and international monthly climactic data charts, 365 days of weather trivia and significant events in meteorological history.

Adventures in Tornado Alley: The Storm Chasers – Quite simply, wow!  The images this book contains will amaze and astound you.  Professional storm chasers Mike Hollingshead and Eric Nguyen document some of their most incredible chases across the nation’s midsection in photographs and text.  Absolutely stunning imagery.  

Three weather books for kids

The Kids’ Book of Weather Forecasting – For your 3rd to 5th grader, this book provides a great primer for kids interested in learning more about the weather.  Beautiful illustrations make the topics easy to understand and experiments like making a barometer and rain gauge gives kids a hands-on experience.

Storm Chasers! On the Trail of Twisters – Written for kids 7 – 13 years old by veteran storm chasers, this helps to explain severe weather to youth.  Colorful illustrations help kids become familiar with various types of storms, learn how to spot them and teaches them storm chasing safety and responsible storm chasing behavior. 

The Weather Detectives – This book chronicles three kids as they investigate weather phenomena like the causes of tornadoes, hurricanes, ice and hail storms, flash floods, the Northern Lights, and more.  Written by a professional meteorologist, this book is sure to educate and entertain.

Book review: The Colorado Weather Alamanac by Mike Nelson

The Colorado Weather Almanac by Mike Nelson.  Simply the best Colorado weather book out there.
The Colorado Weather Almanac by Mike Nelson. Simply the best Colorado weather book out there.

The Colorado Weather Almanac came out last year and I have added this to my short list of “must read” books for anyone interested in weather, particularly for those in Colorado.  Everyone here in Colorado is well aware of the author, Mike Nelson, 7News’ chief meteorologist, and he does an extraordinary job covering the entire gamut of weather conditions we receive here.

The best part of the book is described in one of the words in the title – Colorado.  This is all about our weather.  It starts out with what is probably in my opinion the single most interesting section, Colorado climate.  Mr. Nelson explains all the ins and outs of how our topography and our geography greatly impact the weather we have and why weather varies so greatly over short distances, even within the confines of the metro area and Front Range.

There is of course discussion about standard weather terms we all have heard such as dew point, pressure, fronts, El Nino, La Nina and on and on.  The key though is that the book ties all of this into Colorado and how these things directly impact us.  Other terms associated with our weather like upslope, downslope, Chinook and more are also covered; things that we hear on the news every day but may not fully understand.

Continue reading Book review: The Colorado Weather Alamanac by Mike Nelson