National Weather Service Reminds People of Things They're Scared of on Halloween

Active regions on the sun combined to look something like a jack-o-lantern’s face in this October 8, 2014 file photo. The image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, which watches the sun at all times from its orbit in space. The active regions in this image appear brighter because those are areas that emit more light and energy. They are markers of an intense and complex set of magnetic fields hovering in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona. This image blends together two sets of extreme ultraviolet wavelengths at 171 and 193 Ångströms, typically colorized in gold and yellow, to create a particularly Halloween-like appearance. Image: NASA/SDO — Active regions on the sun combined to look something like a jack-o-lantern’s face in this October 8, 2014 file photo. The image was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, which watches the sun at all times from its orbit in space. The active regions in this image appear brighter because those are areas that emit more light and energy. They are markers of an intense and complex set of magnetic fields hovering in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona. This image blends together two sets of extreme ultraviolet wavelengths at 171 and 193 Ångströms, typically colorized in gold and yellow, to create a particularly Halloween-like appearance. Image: NASA/SDO

Just in time for Halloween, the National Weather Service is reminding people of the meteorological things they’re scared of by releasing this handy list of weather-related phobias:

Ancraophobia – Fear of Wind
Antlophobia – Fear of Floods
Astraphobia – Fear of Thunderstorms
Chionophobia – Fear of Snow
Cryophobia – Fear of Cold Weather
Cymophobia – Fear of Waves
Heliophobia – Fear of the Sun
Homichlophobia – Fear of Fog
Lilapsophobia – Fear of Severe Weather
Nephophobia – Fear of Clouds
Ombrophobia – Fear of Rain
Thermophobia – Fear of Heat

A phobia is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of something. Phobias typically result in a rapid onset of fear and are usually present for more than six months. Those with such phobias go through great lengths to avoid what they fear, sometimes to a degree greater than the actual danger posed. If the situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant distress which could lead to screaming, hyperventilating, and even fainting.