We may get lucky on Wednesday in terms of a limit to severe weather, as we will likely see what is called a capping inversion setup. This means that higher up in the atmosphere, we will have plenty of very warm air, as well as plenty of warm air near the surface. One of the main elements in severe weather outbreaks is instability, which forms from steep lapse rates, or the gradient of very warm to hot air at the surface, and very cool to cold air in the upper atmosphere. That steep gradient fosters convection, and allows air to rise quickly, which condenses into clouds, and eventually, rain, up and downdrafts, hail and thunderstorms, and even tornadoes. A capping inversion means that lapse rates are shallow, and that very warm air aloft caps the ability for convection to occur. Still, the atmosphere will be juiced up, so PLENTY of moisture will be there, but without forced ascent, or lift, and without instability, showers and thunderstorms may be otherwise more limited or scattered. Well still have to watch this. As the cold front moves towards us on Thursday, lift will be present, and as the front approaches, so does cooler air aloft, producing steeper lapse rates, which is why Thursday could feature more strong to severe weather. However, this could be curtailed due to more clouds around, which hinders the ability of the Sun to heat the surface, thereby reducing lapse rates. If you want to learn more about thunderstorm development, please click the following link to my website, and I will report more tomorrow on mid-week potential for severe weather, and keep monitoring the potential for tropical weather for southern New England late this coming weekend: westernmassweather/thunderstorms/
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:40:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015