This photograph shows the build-up of cumulus clouds.
Click on image for full size
Courtesy of Steve Albers
Types of Thunderstorms
There are two main types of thunderstorms: ordinary and severe. Ordinary
thunderstorms are the common summer storm. They are usually multicell.
Multicell storms consist of a line of thunderstorms in different stages
of development.
Ordinary thunderstorms last about one hour. The precipitation associated
with them is rain and
occasionally small hail.
An ordinary thunderstorm cloud
can have a vertical extent up to 12 kilometers.
Severe thunderstorms are the most dangerous weather
phenomenon in the United States. They are capable of producing baseball-sized
hail, strong winds, intense rain, flash floods, and
tornadoes. Severe thunderstorms
can last several hours and can reach a vertical extent of 18 kilometers.
Several phenomena are associated with severe thunderstorms. These
include the gust
front, microburst, supercell
thunderstorm,
and the squall
line.
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