Thunderstorms & Tornadoes

Chapter 10

Meteorology 1010Professor Bunds

Utah Valley University

Thunderstorm Types

• Air Mass– Occur within mT air– Uneven heating of the ground creates unstable

air (therefore common in afternoon)– Usually isolated storms & usually do not

produce strong winds, hail

• Severe– Involve uneven heating and lifting of warm air

by front or mountains– Usually occur in bands or groups– Can produce strong winds, hail, tornadoes

Average Number of Days per Year with Thunderstorms

Lots of air mass Lots of air mass T-stormsT-storms

Stages of Air Mass Thunderstorm Development

Cumulus Clouds – potential initiation of air Cumulus Clouds – potential initiation of air mass T-stormsmass T-storms

Developing Cumulonimbus

Gust Front in Severe Thunderstorm

Roll Cloud in Severe Thunderstorm

Roll Cloud in Severe Thunderstorm

Conditions for a Thunderstorm

Dryline

Squall Lineline of thunderstorms ahead of a cold front

Lightning!

Stages of a Lightning Strike

Tornadoes!

Damage Path from a Tornado

Supercell

Supercell

Development of a Tornado from a Mesocyclone

Multi-Vortex

Average Tornadoes per Year per 10,000 mi2 area

Fujita Intensity Scale

Fujita Intensity Scale

Number of Tornadoes-blue

Amount of Damage-red

Paths of Tornadoes

Tornado Forecasting

Watch-Conditions are Right

Warning-Tornado has been Spotted!

Doppler Radar

Doppler Effect

Tornado OutbreakApril 14 – 16, 2011

• 62 Tornados Saturday Night Alone

• 200 in 3 Days

• Multiple vortex systems

• www.Tornadovideos.net

Greensboro, N.C.

Charleston S.C.

Morehead, N.C.

Locations of Soundings in Following Slides

Morehead North Carolina 04/17/2011 00 UTC

Charleston South Carolina 04/17/2011 00 UTC

Greensboro Carolina 04/17/2011 00 UTC