ThunderstormsThunderstorms

Ben Plawsky, John Naydenov, Ben Plawsky, John Naydenov, Ben Stadler, Phil CarterBen Stadler, Phil Carter

Development of ThunderstormsDevelopment of Thunderstorms

Warm humid air rises in an unstable Warm humid air rises in an unstable environment.environment.

Three StagesThree Stages– Cumulus Stage – Strong updrafts supply warm, Cumulus Stage – Strong updrafts supply warm,

moist air continually higher causing the cloud to moist air continually higher causing the cloud to grow vertically.grow vertically.

– Mature Stage – Most active, gusty winds, Mature Stage – Most active, gusty winds, lightning, heavy precipitation, and sometimes lightning, heavy precipitation, and sometimes hail.hail.

Development of ThunderstormsDevelopment of Thunderstorms

– Dissipating Stage – The combined cooling of Dissipating Stage – The combined cooling of falling precipitation and downdrafts cause the falling precipitation and downdrafts cause the storm to die down.storm to die down.

How are Thunderstorms Measured?How are Thunderstorms Measured?

There is no official scale to measure There is no official scale to measure thunderstorms, so we measure thunderstorms, so we measure thunderstorm severity by the strength of thunderstorm severity by the strength of its winds, the size of its hail and its ability to its winds, the size of its hail and its ability to generate tornadoes. generate tornadoes.

Where do Thunderstorms Occur?Where do Thunderstorms Occur?

Occur anywhere there is warm moist air.Occur anywhere there is warm moist air. Occur most often around the equator.Occur most often around the equator.

Available Warning SystemAvailable Warning System

First the thunderstorms are detected using First the thunderstorms are detected using radars and spotter reports to create weather radars and spotter reports to create weather service issue warnings. After that parts of service issue warnings. After that parts of the media are used such as TV and radio to the media are used such as TV and radio to reach the general public.reach the general public.

Safety ProcedureSafety Procedure

When in a thunderstorm go indoors for risk of When in a thunderstorm go indoors for risk of being struck by lightning. After that do not use any being struck by lightning. After that do not use any electrical equipment or anything that in apart of a electrical equipment or anything that in apart of a pluming system because using anything like this pluming system because using anything like this could attract lightning and damage equipment or could attract lightning and damage equipment or electrocute the user. Stay away from windows electrocute the user. Stay away from windows doors and concrete floors. Last avoid any area doors and concrete floors. Last avoid any area that contains natural gas for risk of gas being that contains natural gas for risk of gas being ignited.ignited.

Most Severe on RecordMost Severe on Record

The largest thunderstorm ever recorded The largest thunderstorm ever recorded happened in Dallas Texas on may 5th, happened in Dallas Texas on may 5th, 1995. Many people were outside at the time 1995. Many people were outside at the time and were injured by large pieces of hail and were injured by large pieces of hail when the storm started. As a result 17 when the storm started. As a result 17 people died. There was also flash flooding people died. There was also flash flooding created by the storm. 1.1 billion dollars created by the storm. 1.1 billion dollars worth of property was either damaged or worth of property was either damaged or destroyed from hail flooding and lightning. destroyed from hail flooding and lightning.