Meteorology/Severe Storms

This page refers to the 2011 topic of Meteorology.

Severe Storms
Severe Storms is focused on the study of Severe Weather that affects the United States. It can be split into three main groups: Thunderstorms, Hurricanes, and Winter Storms.

Thunderstorms

 * Main article: Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms can occur anywhere that warm, moist air meets cooler air. The warm air moves rapidly upward and condenses, which forms cumulonimbus clouds. Lightning, thunder, and rain are associated with thunderstorms, and severe storms may be accompanied by heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and on occasion, tornadoes.

Hurricanes

 * Main article: Hurricanes

Hurricanes are storm systems which have a large, low-pressure center. They spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Hurricanes often produce many thunderstorms with heavy rain and strong winds. They may also produce tornadoes and damaging storm surge. Hurricanes usually form over large bodies of warm water, and will become weaker if they travel over land, mainly because they lose the warm water energy source.

Winter Storms

 * Main article: Winter Storms

Winter storms can produce precipitation such as snow, sleet, or freezing rain, rather than the rain and hail thunderstorms produce. These storms can happen outside of the winter season, but this is extremely rare.

Links
More detailed Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Inland High Wind Model

Enhanced Fujita Scale

2010.Atmos Page

Resources
"The Atmoshpere" by Frederick K. Lutgens and Edward J. Tarbuck

"Meteorology Today" by Ahrens