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A squall line, or quasi-linear convective system (QLCS), is a line of thunderstorms, often forming along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front (which often are accompanied by abrupt and gusty wind shifts).
Squall lines require significant low-level warmth and humidity, a nearby frontal zone, and vertical wind shear from an angle behind the frontal boundary. [15] The strong winds at the surface are usually a reflection of dry air intruding into the line of storms, which when saturated, falls quickly to ground level due to its much higher density ...
A squall line is an elongated line of severe thunderstorms that can form along and/or ahead of a cold front. [11] [12] In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. [13] The squall line contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts. [14]
Squall lines typically "bow out" due to the formation of a mesoscale high-pressure system which forms within the stratiform rain area behind the initial convective line. This high-pressure area is formed due to strong descending air currents behind the squall line, and could come in the form of a downburst. [10]
A snow squall is a brief period of intense snowfall and wind that leads to whiteout conditions which could trigger dangerous traffic accidents. Snow squalls are most common in the northern United ...
Individual thunderstorm updrafts and downdrafts along the line can become strong, producing large hail and strong outflow of straight-line winds ahead of system. Tornadoes are only occasionally reported. [2] In certain conditions, squall line can extend on a very long line, moving extremely rapidly, and become a derecho.
A bow echo is associated with squall lines or lines of convective thunderstorms. These echoes can range in size from 20 to 200 km, and have a life span of 3 to 6 hours. Bow echoes tend to develop when moderate to strong wind shear exists in the lower 2 to 3 km of the atmosphere. While similar to squall lines, bow echoes are smaller in scale and ...
Rainbands in advance of warm occluded fronts and warm fronts are associated with weak upward motion, [1] and tend to be wide and stratiform in nature. [2] In an atmosphere with rich low level moisture and vertical wind shear, [3] narrow, convective rainbands known as squall lines form generally in the cyclone's warm sector, ahead of strong cold fronts associated with extratropical cyclones. [4]