Spanish for “straight,” a derecho is a wide, straight-¬line wind storm with speeds over 58 mph that generates a continuous series of severe thunderstorms. Wind speeds in a derecho typically increase after the passing of its associated front and approach 100 mph. The strongest recorded have peaked around 130 mph. Low¬-level warm air advection, rich
Read MoreHail is best detected by radar, which shoots radiation in all directions and measures the density of the beams that the nearby environment reflects back. Areas of higher reflectivity indicate more atmospheric content, which indicates the storm cell observed is likely close to maturation. This means it has a speedy, tall updraft and copious ambient
Read MoreFrontal squall lines form just ahead of surface cold fronts and dry lines, and also ahead of upper-level fronts. If the necessary conditions exist, they may stretch to hundreds of miles in length. They may bring tornadoes and hail but they’re more commonly associated with strong straight-line winds. If the flow along a squall line
Read MoreLenticular cloud formation (like photo above) are photo gems that we love to view. However, if you are in an airplane you probably want to avoid. These clouds can be found quite often in the mountain areas of Western US. They usually form when we have strong westerly winds aloft. The danger is in Rotor
Read MoreThe location of the jet stream varies greatly during the year. However during the winter in the northern hemisphere the polar jet is generally located near 40 to 50 degrees latitudes north and found at elevations at 30,000 to 40,000 feet. Wind speeds vary but can be into 150 to 200 mph range and the
Read MoreAccording to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) we found these interesting facts below. Over the next several months we will provide some case studies of weather conditions that occurred during these situations: In nonfatal accidents, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to airline passengers and flight attendants. Each year, approximately 58 people in
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