Severe weather

Severe weather is any destructive weather phenomenon. The term is usually used to refer to severe thunderstorms and related storms, such as tornados, hail, and downbursts. Unlike normal weather, severe weather does not happen as much. Most severe weather, like hurricanes and severe thunderstorms, happen in the summer. Winter storms are also kinds of severe weather, and these happen in the winter.

Severe Weather Media

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  Various forms of severe weather

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  Convection Available Potential Energy (CAPE) versus Vertical Wind Shear below 2.5 km diagram with the different thunderstorms types positionned according to their characteristics. Graphics done using different publication sources as NOAA and FAA.

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  Diagram showing ingredients needed for severe weather. The red arrow shows the position of the low level jet stream, while the blue arrow shows the location of the upper-level jet stream.

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  Panorama of a strong shelf cloud, which can precede the onset of high winds

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  The F5 tornado that struck Elie, Manitoba, Canada, in 2007

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  Formation of numerous waterspouts in the Great Lakes region

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  Illustration of a microburst. The air moves in a downward motion until it hits ground level. It then spreads outward in all directions.

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  Cyclonic vortex over Pennsylvania with a trailing squall line

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  Hurricane Isabel (2003) as seen from orbit during Expedition 7 of the International Space Station