Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm

A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Thunderstorms occur in a type of cloud known as a cumulonimbus. They are usually accompanied by strong winds, heavy rain, and sometimes snow, sleet, hail, or, in contrast, no precipitation at all.

Formation

Thunderstorms are caused by the rapid upward movement of warm, moist air, sometimes along a front. As the warm, moist air moves upward, it cools, condenses, and forms a cumulonimbus cloud that can reach heights of over 20 kilometers. As the rising air reaches its dew point temperature, water vapor condenses into water droplets or ice, reducing pressure locally within the thunderstorm cell. Any precipitation that falls along with the rising air cools the atmosphere, increasing the strength of the updraft and the severity of the thunderstorm.

Types of Thunderstorms

There are three types of thunderstorms: single-cell, multi-cell, and supercell. Supercell thunderstorms are the strongest and most severe. Mesoscale convective systems formed by favorable vertical wind shear within the troposphere are responsible for the development of supercells.

Hazards

Thunderstorms can produce powerful tornadoes, large hailstones, strong wind gusts, flash flooding and intense rainfall. They also produce upper level divergent outflow which can lead to the development of a tropical cyclone if over water.

See also

• Severe weather
• Tornado
• Hail
• Flash flood

References

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External links

• Thunderstorm Basics from the National Severe Storms Laboratory
• Thunderstorm glossary from The Weather Channel

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