Why do thunderstorms occur?

Answer 1

Thunderstorms form when rising warm air, through a process called convection, rises into cooler air alot. Conditions have to be favorable for thunderstorm development, which can be a varietey of factors, including cold fronts, low pressure systems, tropical storms/hurricanes (low pressure systems over water), and storms that form from daytime heating when conditions allow.
Afternoon thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises, and these can be seen forming throughout the day. You will begin to see towering cumulus, or tall clouds that appear to "bubble" and grow. These will eventually reach a level of stable atmosphere, where air cannot rise anymore, and will spread out, forming a n anvil shape, or the anvil. These usually dissipate just before or at sunset, when daytime heating is no longer available to keep the rising air in motion. Examples of these are monsoon showers in the desert, usually with surrounding mountains, and coastal sea-breeze showers.
Often, larger scale thunderstorms will form when two airmasses meet, such as a cold front. This can result in a line of thunderstorms called a squall line. Often because the air ahead of the front is warm and humid, scattered thunderstorms are common before the cold front with its colder and drier air passes through a given area. If there is sufficient moisture to work with, a cold front can drive warm air upwards rapidly into intense convective systems that are more widespread. This is known as a mesoscale convective system, or MCS.
Tropical storms and hurricanes trigger large amounts of thunderstorm activity beceause of the availability of warm water. As one of these storms advances to land, thunderstorm activity can be expected.

Answer 2

How Do Thunderstorms Form

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why do thunderstorms occur?

Answer 4

How Do Storms Form

Answer 5

erm its when hot air meets cold air

What are thunderstorms?
When bolts of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, followed by rumbles of thunder, thunderstorms are said to have occurred. In Hong Kong, thunderstorms occur mainly in spring and summer.



Picture of lightning taken at Fanling
(Photo: Mr. CHAN Cheuk-yin, HKO)



Back to content

How do they form?
Thunderstorms are formed by the uplifting of warm and humid air. There are many factors that lead to the uplifting of air, for example, solar heating; in the vicinity of low pressure troughs; when two different air streams meet; or when air is forced uphill.

When humid air is lifted, it will be cooled and the moisture in the air will condense to form cloud. Upon further uplifting, the cloud will extend higher. Water droplets in the cloud continue to grow in size. As the cloud extends further upward, ice crystals may form because of low temperature there. A cumulonimbus cloud results when it grows to a height of 10 to 20 kilometres. Thunderstorms are produced by cumulonimbus clouds.



Development into a cumulonimbus cloud

Please click here to view pictures of development into a cumulonimbus cloud.



Back to content

How are lightning and thunder produced?
Because it is very turbulent inside a cumulonimbus cloud, the water droplets and ice crystals in it will break up and become electrically charged. Generally speaking, the upper portion of the cloud is positively charged, while the middle and lower portions are negatively charged. When the electric voltage between the positive and negative charges is large enough, discharges take place between clouds or between cloud and the earth's surface, and lightning is said to have occurred. The electric current in a lightning discharge generates a large amount of heat. This causes a very rapid expansion of the local air, resulting in rumbles of thunder.



Distribution of positive and negative charges inside a cumulonimbus cloud

Thunderstorms are sometimes preceded or accompanied by heavy rain and squalls. These arise when the water droplets in the cumulonimbus cloud can no longer be supported by the underlying air and fall down as rain. The downward rushing air produces squalls.



Back to content

How to estimate the distance of a thunderstorm?
Lightning and thunder practically occur at the same time. However, because light travels much faster than sound, people always see lightning before hearing thunder. The distance of the thunderstorm may be roughly estimated by the time difference between the flash and the thunder. As a rule of thumb, if the sound of thunder reaches an observer three seconds after a lightning flash, the thunderstorm is about 1 kilometre away.



Back to content

What is the relationship between atmospheric stability and thunderstorms?
To put it simply, when the air is warmer than the surrounding, it will rise continuously. The situation is said to be unstable. An unstable atmosphere is favourable for the development of cumulonimbus and hence thunderstorms.

When the air is colder than the surrounding, it will sink. The situation is said to be stable. A stable atmosphere does not support air uplift and is unfavourable for thunderstorm development.



Back to content

How often do thunderstorms occur in Hong Kong?
In Hong Kong, thunderstorms occur mainly in spring and summer. On average, thunderstorms are reported on about 5 days each month from April to September.




Average number of thunderstorm days in each month




Back to content

How to forecast thunderstorms?
The weather forecaster at the Hong Kong Observatory makes use of radar pictures, satellite pictures, lightning location information and weather reports to monitor the development and movement of the thunderstorms. To forecast thunderstorms, he/she makes use of various forecasting aids including results from computer models and weather conditions aloft as measured with weather balloons.

Answer 6

because there are sinners in the area. GOD KNOWS WHEN YOU SIN!!!