Morning's calm. Outside is still. A blue-forever day until . . .

The real beginning of a thunderstorm happens long before the first raindrop falls.

No rain yet. It's just a threat-
a rising cloud, a towering plume, then . . .

Follow along as the weather changes, from a blue-sky day to a brewing storm, from a brewing storm to a dazzling downpour, and from a dazzling downpour to the breathtaking moment when the sky emits a-

ZAP! CLAP! BOOM!

Laura Purdie Salas's dynamic text and Elly MacKay's vibrant art offer the perfect introduction to the science of weather and the forces that work together to create a storm. The next time nature puts on a dramatic thunder and lightning show, readers will be ready to find a cozy spot near a window and watch the storm unfold.

An author's note delves deeper into the science of thunderstorms.