![]() If this warm surface air is forced to rise-hills or mountains, or areas where warm/cold or wet/dry air bump together can cause rising motion-it will continue to rise as long as it weighs less and stays warmer than the air around it.Īs the air rises, it transfers heat from the surface of the earth to the upper levels of the atmosphere (the process of convection). The sun heats the surface of the earth, which warms the air above it. How does a thunderstorm form? Three basic ingredients are required for a thunderstorm to form: moisture, rising unstable air (air that keeps rising when given a nudge), and a lifting mechanism to provide the “nudge.” ACT now to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of danger. Warnings mean there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the storm. Watch and prepare for severe weather and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio to know when warnings are issued.Ī Severe Thunderstorm WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists who watch a designated area 24/7 for severe weather that has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. A watch can cover parts of a state or several states. for weather conditions that are favorable for severe thunderstorms. ![]() What is the difference between a Severe Thunderstorm WATCH and a Severe Thunderstorm WARNING? A Severe Thunderstorm WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center meteorologists who are watching the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. But, no place in the United States is completely safe from the threat of severe weather. extends from Texas to southern Minnesota. Where are severe thunderstorms most common? The greatest severe weather threat in the U.S. Tornadoes (with winds up to about 300 mph) can destroy all but the best-built man-made structures. Strong (up to more than 120 mph) straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms knock down trees, power lines and mobile homes. Hail up to the size of softballs damages cars and windows, and kills livestock caught out in the open. Lightning is responsible for many fires around the world each year, and causes fatalities. Under the right conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms causes flash flooding, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. What kinds of damage can thunderstorms cause? Many hazardous weather events are associated with thunderstorms. Thunderstorms frequently occur in the late afternoon and at night in the Plains states. When are thunderstorms most likely? Thunderstorms are most likely in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening hours, but they can occur year-round and at all hours.Īlong the Gulf Coast and across the southeastern and western states, most thunderstorms occur during the afternoon. There are about 100,000 thunderstorms each year in the U.S. How many thunderstorms are there? Worldwide, there are an estimated 16 million thunderstorms each year, and at any given moment, there are roughly 2,000 thunderstorms in progress. What is a severe thunderstorm? A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following: hail one inch or greater, winds gusting in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado. ![]() A thunderstorm is the result of convection. Why do I sometimes hear meteorologists use the word “convection” when talking about thunderstorms? Usually created by surface heating, convection is upward atmospheric motion that transports whatever is in the air along with it-especially any moisture available in the air. Since thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning. ![]() What is a thunderstorm? A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. What we do: Read more about NSSL's thunderstorm research here.
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