Weather, Violent | Research & Encyclopedia Articles

Weather, Violent

Violent weather can occur anywhere. Depending on where an outbreak occurs, there will be different types of storms. However, not all storms are violent. There are, for example, thunderstorms that are not severe, and tornadoes that do not cause extensive damage. Common measurement scales do not provide an understanding of the strength of a weather disturbance. Consequently, meteorologists must use different scales to measure the strength of weather systems, and to make predictions about when violent weather may strike.

Thunderstorms

There are three ingredients necessary for a thunderstorm to form:

1. moisture must be present in the lower levels of the atmosphere;
2. cold air must be present in the upper atmosphere; and
3. there must be a catalyst to push the warm air into the cold air.

This catalyst is usually in the form of a front, which is the interface between air masses at different temperatures. As the warm air rises it cools and some of the water vapor turns into clouds. Eventually the air mass will reach an area where it is the same temperature as the area surrounding it, and thunderstorms can occur.

Thunderstorms can be measured as strong or severe. Some thunderstorms, though, may be neither. Severe thunderstorms are classified as having winds greater than or equal to 58 mph (miles per hour), and/or hail greater than or equal to three-quarters of an inch.

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