Why do thunderstorms predominantly happen in the evening and night?

Question

Or is that an illusion?

Answer 1

Thunderstorms are the result of instability in the atmosphere, which basically means cold air above warm air. There's much to it than that, but that's the gist of it. Warm air likes to rise, and since the sun heats the ground during the day, thunderstorms often pop up late in the afternoon.

Why aren't there always thunderstorms then, since the higher the altitude, the colder it is? Because as that air near the ground rises, it also expands and cools to a temperature about the same as the ambient air it encounters as it rises. Instability is only present when the air in the mid and upper levels is so cold that the near-ground air does not cool enough as it rises to remain as cool as the mid/upper ambient air. It just keeps going up until an equilibrium is reached.

During the early hours of the morning, long after the sun has set, everything settles and stabilizes, getting ready for the sun to do its stuff again the next afternoon.

There's also usually a cap, or inverted layer of quite warm air, at an altitude of about 3000 to 6000 feet, that must be breached for a thunderstorm to be low to the ground, but now I'm probably getting a little too technical...

Answer 2

well the air colls fater than the earth at night. causing the heat from the earth to rise causing convection. also the dew point lowers. when you look at the base of a cloud during the day thats where the dew point is set at, and when you wake up your grass is wet thats cause the dew point reached the ground. so the dew point lowers and convection causing a cloud. if the cloud gets large enough there could be a thunder storm . there are 3 layers to a thunder storm.In order for there to be a thunder cloud (cumulonibus cloud) the top third has to be frozed also known as "glaciated" the middle part of the cloud is both frozen and just plain rain. There are strong updrafts which causes the rain to colllide with the ice freezing the rain causing hail) the bottom has to be plain rain. if the hail is to large to be supported by the updrafts it falls. hope this information is somewhat helpfull to answer your question =)

It could also be caused by oligraphic lifting. If you live next to a mountain range, air is forced up the mountain and hits the dew point and forms a cloud. usually theres a windward and a leeward side of a mountain. windward gets more rain, and leeward is more sunny

Answer 3

Because the morning is the coolest part of the day and thunderstorms only occur when sufficient heating has taken place to cause large updrafts forming cumulus clouds that become larger as the day goes on. Once these clouds become large enough, they become electrically charged and begin to drop their built up moisture as rain. The charges result in lightning strikes to the ground or within the cloud. The storms are fed by the updrafts that become so large that the air exits in front of the approaching storm as a gust you feel that lets you know its coming. The reason they form in the evening or nighttime is because thats when the air is at is warmest point and of highest humidity to feed the storms.

Answer 4

Thunderstorms can and do happen at any time of day, however you are correct, they do tend to build up and occur more in the evenings.
This is primarily due to solar heating during the day. Convection air currents and a drop in temperature will cause the sudden build up of clouds if there is sufficient moisture in the air and violent thunderstorms can form in a very short time.

Here is quote from the National Weather service.

TIME OF DAY VARIATIONS
A. NATIONAL

The time of day when casualties and damages due to lightning were reported in the US shows a strong dominance of afternoon reports Two-thirds of the casualties occur between noon and 6 p.m. Local Standard Time (LST). Casualties show a steady increase toward a maximum at 1600 LST, followed by a slightly slower decrease after the maximum.

Yours: Grumpy

Answer 5

Illusion in some respects. There are perhaps more, but not necessarily to the exclusion of storms during the day. Evening cooling of the air can trigger the eruption of storms if conditions are right.

Answer 6

Most of the moisture and energy from rising heat is caused by the sun during the day. The storms generally form after that process has taken place, late in the day or at night.

Answer 7

Thunderstorms can occur at any time of day, but most times, due to the heating of the atmosphere, they occur most often during the afternoon and evening hours.

Answer 8

thunderstorms are cuased by warmer air and cloder air coliding, ... this actually makes the thunder sound, lool, but at night time cooler air comes in , after the sun goes dow, it colides withthe hot air from the day , and creates a storm, ... not an illusion

Answer 9

it quite is in simple terms paranoia. The door commencing off is the wind, and the door isn't safeguard. The desires are in simple terms nightmares that ensue on account which you're scared. do not hassle, ghosts are not genuine.

Answer 10

Because the heat and humidity build up from everyone driving and plants running during the day