Eye of the Storm

June marks the official beginning of the American hurricane season, yet by early May, we were already witness to the devastation that Mother Nature wrought in Oklahoma and Kansas. What causes these tremendous storms which result in such massive amounts of loss of life and property alike? What ignites those terrifying bolts of lightning that shoot down from the heavens during tornadoes? What sparks those torrential downpours that flood towns in a matter of minutes? In Eye of the Storm: Inside the World's Deadliest Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Blizzards, science journalist Jeffrey Rosenfeld takes us on a whirlwind adventure through the world's deadliest storms, answering these questions and many more. While just a century ago thunder, lightning, and snow were considered solely acts of divine intervention, meteorologists today try to grasp and even recreate the magic of stormy weather. Flying through 200 M.P.H. hurricanes with winds pummeling their planes and chasing tornadoes across the desolate desert, they risk their lives to get closer to these unbridled forces. Now in this unprecedented work, Rosenfeld follows these brave scientists into the eye of the storm, eloquently explaining the science behind snowflakes, hail, and even the ghostly glow emanating from inside tornadoes. Moreover, as we journey through the awe-inspiring history of storm science, we meet the true heroes of the quest to understand the weather -- the scientists, from Ben Franklin to today's computer modelers, whose acumen, daring and ingenuity have allowed them to see the uncharted realm of the clouds. Illuminating and highly entertaining, Eye of the Storm reveals that behind the power of the tumultuous heavens there lies a majestic, yet deadly, beauty. We see past the chaos and destruction and witness the grace of hidden patterns in the swirling wind and blinding rain. After reading this engrossing, turbulent saga of bravery, creativity, danger, and intrigue, you'll never look at a storm the same way again.