Types of Thunderstorms
Not all thunderstorms can be
classified neatly into one of these types.
This listing is ordered from most common and least severe to least
common and most severe.
- Single Cell (Sometimes
called Air Mass Thunderstorms)
- Scattered, late afternoon,
summertime storms
- Size:
typically less than a couple of miles across
- Short lasting, typically 1
hour or less
- Multicell Cluster Storms
- Group of cells moving as a
single unit with each cell in a different stage of thunderstorm development
- Since new cells develop as
older ones die, multicell cluster storms can last for several hours
- Multicell lines (Often
called Squall lines)
- Line of storms (composed of
many individual cells) that move together as the line moves
- Often (but not always)
associated with cold fronts
- Lines may be 500 or more
miles long
- Lines may last for several
hours and move hundreds of miles
- Mesoscale Convective
Complexes (MCCs)
- Cluster of many interacting
storm cells, which act as an organized unit
- Often the cluster takes on a
huge circular or oval shape
- Can be as large as entire
states, such as
- Can live for 6 hours or more
(sometimes all night long)
- Supercells
- Single, large storm,
characterized by deep, rotating updrafts.
- 10 to 30 miles across
- Most strong tornadoes are
associated with supercells
- Last for hours
More
information and pictures of thunderstorms and severe weather can be found at http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/svr/home.rxml