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Re: [STORMREPORTS] "phantom storms"

From: Elliot Abrams (eabrams{at}lazerlink.com)
Date: Tue May 13 2003 - 21:05:42 EDT

One thing I noticed early that morning was the temperature-dewpoint profile
at Wilmington, Ohio. It showed (1) a warm layer above 20,000 feet. That
served as a cap to inhibit convection. In addition, there was a huge region
of very dry air from about the 10 thousand foot level up at least 10-15
thousand feet from there. A dry layer will actually help thunderstorms
develop in many cases. Dry air cools at 5 and a half degrees F per thousand
feet, whereas moist air cools at 3 degrees per thousand feet of ascent. This
means if both airmasses are lifted, the dry one will cool faster than the
moist one. This increases the difference between the two layers and can
accelerate the lifting action... as long as there is no strong cap (which is
a sign of sinking air). Anyway, that airmass moved over the warm and humid
low level air at just the time when conditions had to be right for intense
thunderstorms to develop. If the dry capped airmass had arrived on the scene
just a few hours later, monster thunderstorms could have erupted. That was
my take on the apparent fizzle.

Elliot Abrams
----- Original Message -----
From: <Skywarn42{at}cs.com>
To: <stormreports{at}wxmatrix-membersonly>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 12:00 PM
Subject: [STORMREPORTS] "phantom storms"

> A lot of people here in South Central PA have been asking me why nothing
> materialized on Sunday.

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