No chit-chat this time, let's get started.
Reference ACWM Chapter 15
- high relative humidity
- steep lapse rate
- lifting force / triggering action
Life cycle of a thunderstorm (1 - 3 hours):
- cumulus stage: only updrafts are present in the cloud
- mature stage: starts at onset of precipitation at the surface; updrafts and downdrafts
- dissipating stage: presence of downdrafts throughout nearly the whole cell
Classification of thunderstorms:
- airmass: form within a warm, moist air mass; isolated
- frontal: warm front (embedded in stratiform layer; least severe), cold front (form in continuous line; quite severe), trowal (rapid lifting of warm, moist air; moderate severity)
- squall line: most severe, may include heavy hail, destructive winds, tornados; often form 100-200 miles ahead of fast-moving cold fronts
- convective: formed by heating from below or by convergence of wind flow
- orographic: wind forces moist, unstable air up mountain slopes
- nocturnal: unusually warm air aloft, frequently occurs at night or early morning in Midwest / Central Plains
POP QUIZ!
You've inadvertently just flown into a thunderstorm cell. What do you do?
Discussion of tornados, hurricanes and hazards to follow.
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