Meteorology/Severe Storms

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This page refers to a topic of Meteorology which is currently in rotation for the 2024 season. It was last in rotation during the 2021 season.

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. For all pages pertaining to this topic, see Category:Severe Storms.

Thunderstorms

Main article: Severe Storms/Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms can occur anywhere that warm, moist air meets cooler air. They are common along cold fronts where 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: Severe Storms/Hurricanes

Hurricanes are tropical cyclones, storm systems which have a large, low-pressure center around which thunderstorms converge. Tropical cyclones are called hurricanes in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans, but elsewhere in the world are called typhoons or simple "cyclones". They spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere due to the Coriolis force. 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: Severe Storms/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. Some of the key dangers of all winter storms include hypothermia and frostbite due to the cold, and also car accidents due to unsafe road conditions. The types are: Blizzards and Severe_Storms/Winter_Storms#Nor'easters, Lake-effect Snow.

Mudslides

Main article: Severe Storms/Mudslides

Mudslides develop when water rapidly accumulates in the ground and results in a surge of water-saturated rock, earth, and debris. Mudslides usually start on steep slopes and can be activated by natural disasters.

Mid-latitude Cyclones

Main article: Severe Storms/Mid-latitude Cyclones

Extratropical cyclones, widely referred to as mid-latitude cyclones, are synoptic scale low pressure systems that form between 30° N and 60° N latitudes or 30° S and 60° S latitudes. Cyclogenesis is a term used to describe the intensification or development of a cyclone and is commonly used to describe the life cycle of a mid-latitude cyclone. The different stages of Cyclogenesis are: Stationary stage, Wave stage, Open stage, Occluded stage, and Dissipation stage.

Atmospheric Rivers

Main article: Severe Storms/Atmospheric Rivers

Atmospheric rivers are narrow bands of enhanced water vapor transport. They are often found in the warm sectors of mid-latitude cyclones that form over water. The warm sector can also entrain moisture from oceanic regions. Atmospheric rivers are narrow (about 100km) and travel quickly (85mph at core). ARs are responsible for almost all (>90%) of the global north-south transport of water vapor. The evidence surrounding the impacts and effects ARs have on weather patterns is substantial, and will continue to increase as NOAA and other important weather organizations conduct research on how the rivers function. Climate change can drastically change the effects of atmospheric rivers. For each 1 degree Fahrenheit that the atmosphere heats up, the atmosphere can hold 4% more moisture, so as the effects of climate change increase, so will the size of atmospheric rivers. This allows more rainfall in most places. For example, the Pineapple Express would contain moisture thereby influencing precipitation on the West Coast.

Specific Storms

Based on the 2024 National Rules.

Important Hurricanes/Tropical Storms

Galveston (1900)

Andrew (1992)

Katrina (2005)

Sandy (2012)

2021 Hurricanes/Tropical Storms

Fred

Hurricane Fred was a category 3 hurricane that formed on the 11th of August, 2021. It dissipated on the 20th. Fred originated from a tropical wave first noted on August 4th. The remnant low was on August 17. The highest winds were 65 mph or 100km/h. The lowest pressure was 991 mbar. 7 fatalities were recorded and the total damage done was $1.3 billion (2021) USD.

Grace

Henri

Ida

2022 Hurricanes/Tropical Storms

Fiona

Ian

Nicole

2023 Hurricanes/Tropical Storms

Limited to any "Major" Hurricanes

Blizzard of March 1888

Dust Bowl of the 1930s

Tornado Outbreaks

Xenia Ohio Tornado Outbreak (1974)

April 2011 Tornado Outbreaks

Great Flood of 1993

Storm of the Century (1993)

Other

  • Analysis of Data from 2021-2024 U.S. Blizzards, Droughts, Floods, Tornado Outbreaks & Heat Waves (Heat Domes)
  • Analysis of Data from 2021 - 2024 World-Wide (non-U.S.) Tropical Severe Weather, Floods, & Heat Waves.

Scales for Measuring Severe Weather Events

There are several ways to measure specific types of severe storms. Most are measured using a scale system. Hurricanes use the Saffir-Simpson scale, while tornadoes use the Enhanced Fujita Scale. It is also important to know the Fujita Scale, an older version of the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Saffir-Simpson Scale

Fujita Scale

Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale)

Links and Resources

Links

WW2010
More detailed Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Inland High Wind Model
Enhanced Fujita Scale
Introduction to Thunderstorms
Atmospheric Rivers

Resources

Suggested books include:

"The Atmosphere" by Frederick K. Lutgens and Edward J. Tarbuck
"Meteorology Today" by C. Donald Ahrens