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Oct 29, 2021 · Warm, moist air wafts north from the Gulf, while the jet stream blows from west to east, gusting at 150 miles per hour, often over the central US.
Tornado Watch: Conditions for a tornado are favorable. Stay alert about approaching storms. Tornado Warning: A tornado has been reported or has been detected by the National Weather Service's weather radar. Seek shelter immediately.
- Moisture
- Instability
- Sources of Lift: Jet Streams, Fronts
- Wind Shear
The fuel for thunderstorms is a supply of warm, moist air in the lowest levels of the atmosphere. This should make sense, as most days with thunderstorms are at least somewhat warm and humid. In general, the warmer and more humid the air is, the higher the potential for thunderstorms.
However, not every warm and humid day triggers thunderstorms in most parts of the world. What's also important is how much colder and drier the air is above that warm, humid near-surface layer. Meteorologists refer to this difference in temperature and moisture with height as instability. The greater this difference, the more vigorous the thunderst...
Now, we need triggers, those atmospheric features that force a large number of thunderstorms to occur. This U-shaped jet stream plunge – known to meteorologists as a trough – forces a low-pressure system with cold and warm fronts to intensify to the east of it, drawing northward that increasingly warm and humid air we discussed earlier. The instabi...
Thunderstorms have rising and sinking currents of air called updrafts and downdrafts. Downdrafts usually are laden with the thunderstorm's rain. An ordinary midsummer thunderstorm along the U.S. Gulf Coast, for example, will develop but then rain itself out as its downdraft chokes off its updraft. However, in a severe weather outbreak, the differen...
Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris. Tornadoes can be among the most violent phenomena of all atmospheric storms we experience. What we do: Read more about NSSL's tornado research here.
Mar 22, 2024 · Tornadoes are possible but still rare in January, February and March for Indiana and much of the Great Lakes. You usually have a lot of spin with an active jet stream, but you do not have enough heat, generally. This year, we've had some big warm spells for Indiana.
- 2 min
Mar 25, 2020 · Tornadoes can occur pretty much anywhere nationwide during the warmest months. Brief, usually weaker tornadoes can be caused by popcorn sea-breeze thunderstorms and sea breeze collisions...
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May 8, 2024 · Most of the tornado chances will be south of the Ohio River, however with the warm front in place, bringing enhanced rotation to the atmosphere, watch for some tornadoes, especially in southern Indiana. The chance is NOT zero for Indianapolis, but it is lower.
