External conflict.   One of the battle-tested warriors from the planet Conflict, which is another one of "The Big 5" (story essentials).  We'll battle its evil twin (Internal Conflict) next Thursday in an all-out, winner takes all, battle of wits, but for now let's tackle this monster.  

External conflict is pretty basic.  

Think Godzilla.  

Think Death Eaters.  

Think Death Star. 

You get the point. 

Conflict is ESSENTIAL to any story because it begs the question: how is the main character (or my merry band of intergalactic rebels) going to resolve it?  It's exciting.  It's scary.  It's the glue that holds the reader.  Giant asteroids, killer volcanoes, 4-legged robotic aliens, flocks of angry birds (or flying monkeys)—you name it, we want the good guys to beat them.

...AND...

We're willing to stick around to see how they do it.  

Some writers argue that starting your story with a weather theme is taboo. Nay, I say!  Weather can be an excellent vehicle for external conflict.  For example...if your story opens in a blinding snowstorm, where waist-deep snow has stranded a car at a railroad crossing...uh...you have my attention.  If the signal lights begin to flash and you describe the distant whine of a train horn, getting louder by the second...I will absolutely keep reading.  Even before you introduce your main character—the gorgeous government agent, passed out in the front seat from driving all night, who has just discovered...

  See what I mean?