Thunderstorms are the most commonly observed form of severe weather condition. Thunderstorms are highly powerful and cause immense damage to living beings and property. Thunderstorms can be of four different types like squall line, single cell, multicell and supercell.

Creation of Thunderstorms

Substantial condensation is the primary pre-requisite for all types thunderstorms. Condensation creates ice crystals and water droplets. It results in unstable atmospheric condition followed by upward draft. High moisture level in air, abnormally low atmospheric pressure and high temperature are some of the conditions that leads to thunderstorms.

Features of Thunderstorms

• Thunderstorms are always accompanied by lightning, as it is essential for thunder creation.

• Thunderstorms appear in different shapes and sizes. Some varieties of thunderstorm can extend upto miles in diameter. Severe forms of thunderstorms occur in clusters. Mesoscale convective complexes are the most powerful forms of thunderstorms, which can spread upto several hundred miles.

• Thunderstorms are followed by heavy showers, which can continue for hours.

• Dry thunderstorms, widely observed in the west U.S., are not accompanied by rains; instead it creates wildfires and fire storms.

• If thunderstorm continues for pretty long time it may emerge as tornado. Powerful winds and huge hails follow the damaging storm.

• Drylines, cold fronts, high afternoon temperature and high level of humidity strengthen thunderstorms.

• Thunderstorms are highly unpredictable by nature.

• It usually happens in the afternoon and evening hours during hot summer days.

• Thunderstorms start with the cumulus stage followed by the mature stage and finally end with dissipation stage.

• Lightning that happens during thunderstorms can be either in-cloud, ground to cloud, cloud to ground or cloud to cloud.