Heat Dome: Understanding the patterns that lead to extreme heatwaves
A heat dome is caused when the atmosphere traps hot ocean air as if bound by a lid or cap. The extensive dome traps warm …
Severe Weather Theory
Learn all about severe weather, from extreme heat waves to thunderstorms; how they form, and why some are so destructive.
Types of convective clouds – from fair-weather clouds to thunderstorms
Convection forms distinct types of clouds. Convective clouds are divided into two types (genera): cumulus and cumulonimbus. Each successive kind and species displays more vertical …
Thunderstorm basics: Understanding the power of nature
In this section, we will take a general look at the thunderstorms. What is a typical thunderstorm? We will examine its essential components and how …
Back-sheared anvil: The role of wind shear in shaping cumulonimbus anvil
A back-sheared anvil is the expression for a cumulonimbus anvil that spreads against (upwind) into relatively strong winds (jet stream) aloft. Anvil vs. wind …
Understanding overshooting top in thunderstorms
Overshooting tops develop on thunderstorms that have powerful updrafts. Overshooting tops typically develop on Cumulonimbus capillatus incus clouds. The updraft punches through the equilibrium level …
The highest ever measured thunderstorms – how high can they go?
How high into the sky can thunderstorms develop – what are the highest ever measured thunderstorms? The most vigorous updrafts reach the tropopause and produce …
Convective initiation: Understanding thunderstorm development
Convection initiation typically starts along boundary-layer convergence zones. These zones have long been known to be key factors in convection initiation and further storm evolution. …
Understanding atmospheric instability
Atmospheric instability is where the Earth’s atmosphere is generally considered unstable. As air near the ground heats, it becomes more and more unstable and becomes …