Details: Heat is a mighty force that governs our climate, from hurricanes and sandstorms, to thunder and lightning. This program traces the arrival of summer, from the extremes of heat in the desert to a lovely summer in the temperate climates of the North. Viewers see the jungles of Belize, where the sun's energy is most intense and where the weather is both hot and wet. While a rare situation, in 1995 Chicago experienced a heat wave that killed 165 people. In the desert, the Marathon des Sables is an exhausting and dangerous seven day test of ability to see what effect dry heat has on the weather, from mirages to a deadly desert sand storm. The energy behind lightning is explored and what it is like to be struck by lightning.

Planet Weather takes a thrilling journey into the heart of the elements, hitching a ride with a hurricane, journeying into the eye of the storm, and flying with a droplet through the water cycle. Stunning footage and computer graphics re-create the unseen wonders of the world's climate, visualizing the formation of phenomena and taking a detailed look at the most exciting and dangerous forces of the weather. From amazing locations around the planet, Planet Weather reveals a new perspective on Earth's weather and explains the strange and almost unbelievable connections between weather conditions in totally different parts of the globe.