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Types of thunderstorms

Single Cell Storms

Thunderstorms can consist of just one ordinary cell that transitions through its life cycle and dissipates without additional new cell formation. But true single cell storms are relatively rare since even the weakest of storms usually occur as multicell updraft events. Single cell storms seem quite random (perhaps because of our lack of understanding) in the production of brief severe events such as hail, some heavy rainfall, and occasional weak tornadoes.

Multicell Storms

Thunderstorms often form in clusters with a group of cells moving as a single unit, with each cell in a different stage of the thunderstorm life cycle. Generally these storms are more potent than single cell storms, but considerably less so than supercells.

Unlike ordinary single cells, cluster storms can last for several hours producing large hail, damaging winds, flash flooding, and isolated tornados.

2. source: www.srh.weather.gov

Multicell Lines (Squall Lines)

Sometimes thunderstorms will form in a line which can extend laterally for hundreds of miles. These "squall lines" can persist for many hours and produce damaging winds and hail. A squall line is a line of thunderstorms that have a common lifting mechanism. Lifting mechanisms tend to occur in bands. The rain cooled air or "gust front" spreading out from underneath the squall line acts as a mini cold front, continually lifting warm moist air to fuel the storms. Examples of banded lifting mechanisms include fronts, large outflow boundaries, gravity waves, etc.

The classic squall line will develop out ahead of and parallel to a cold front or dry line boundary. The storms first develop where there is the best combination of moisture, instability and lift. The storms will continue to evolve and new cells will develop (commonly toward the south and east).

The squall line will sustain itself by producing its own lift due to outflow boundaries. As long as instability and moisture remain present out ahead of the squall line, the squall line will continue to propagate. Often along the leading edge of the line a low hanging arc of cloudiness will form called the shelf cloud. Gusty, sometimes damaging outflow winds will spread out horizontally along the ground behind the shelf cloud.

Downburst winds are the main threat, although hail as large as golf balls and gustnadoes can occur. Flash floods occasionally occur when the squall line decelerates or even becomes stationary, with thunderstorms moving parallel to the line and repeatedly across the same area.

Supercell Thunderstorms

Supercell thunderstorms are a special kind of single cell thunderstorm that can persist for many hours. They are responsible for nearly all of the significant tornados produced in the U.S. and for most of the hailstones larger than golf ball size. Supercells are also known to produce extreme winds and flash flooding.

They are characterized by a rotating updraft (usually cyclonic) which results from a storm growing in an environment of significant vertical wind shear. Wind shear occurs when the winds are changing direction and increasing with height.

The most ideal conditions for supercells occurs when the winds are veering or turning clockwise with height. For example, in a veering wind situation the winds may be from the south at the surface and from the west at 15,000 feet. Beneath the supercell, the rotation of the storm is often visible as well.

Compiled by Sándor Szalai - Hungarian Meteorological Service
Scientific reviewing: Dr. Ildikó Dobi Wantuch / Dr. Elena Kalmár - Hungarian Meteorological Service, Budapest
Last updated 2003-11-04

Further reading:

www.srh.weather.gov
ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu