For novice hurricane hunters and seasoned forecasters alike, it’s a year of cyclones, twisters, blizzards, heat waves, and the science behind the world’s most mysterious weather phenomena. Extreme Events: Consider the basketball-size hailstone that fell into a small town in Argentina, or Canada’s coldest day, when an astonishing -81°F temperature caused sound waves to bend. Extreme Places: Al the mouth of the Catatumbo River in Venezuela, lightning is known to strike every 1 to 2 seconds. Literally. Plus, discover weather’s role in mythology, fascinating trivia, and terms such as “St. Elmo’s fire”—a blue-violet plasma that emanates from pointy objects during thunderstorms.