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Squall

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117:(WMO) defined that to be classified as a "squall", the wind must increase at least 8 metres per second (29 km/h; 18 mph) and must attain a top speed of at least 11 metres per second (40 km/h; 25 mph), lasting at least one minute in duration. In Australia, a squall is defined to last for several minutes before the wind returns to the long-term mean value. In either case, a squall is defined to last about half as long as the definition of sustained wind in its respective country. Usually, this sudden violent wind is associated with briefly heavy precipitation as 438: 45:, which lasts for only seconds. They are usually associated with active weather, such as rain showers, thunderstorms, or heavy snow. Squalls refer to the increase of the sustained winds over that time interval, as there may be higher gusts during a squall event. They usually occur in a region of strong sinking air or cooling in the mid-atmosphere. These force strong localized upward motions at the leading edge of the region of cooling, which then enhances local downward motions just in its wake. 538: 49: 313: 428:
rapid within the lower and mid-levels of a mature thunderstorm, one might believe that low pressure dominates in the mesoscale environment. However, this is not the case. With downdrafts ushering colder air from mid-levels, hitting ground and propagating away in all directions, high pressure is to be
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from an angle behind the frontal boundary. 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 before it spreads out downwind. Significant squall lines with multiple
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associated with them may outrun the squall line itself and the synoptic scale area of low pressure may then infill, leading to a weakening of the cold front; essentially, the thunderstorm has exhausted its updrafts, becoming purely a downdraft dominated system. The areas of dissipating squall line
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is another kind of mesoscale low-pressure area to the rear of a squall line near the back edge of the stratiform rain area. Due to the subsiding warm air associated with the system's formation, clearing skies are associated with the wake low. Severe weather, in the form of high winds, can be
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is an important aspect to measuring the potential of squall line severity and duration. In low to medium shear environments, mature thunderstorms will contribute modest amounts of downdrafts, enough to turn will aid in create a leading edge lifting mechanism – the gust front. In high shear
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The main driving force behind squall line creation is attributed to the process of in-filling of multiple thunderstorms and/or a single area of thunderstorms expanding outward within the leading space of an advancing
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is frequently seen on the northern and southernmost reaches of squall line thunderstorms (via satellite imagery). This is where the northern and southern ends curl backwards towards the middle portions of the
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and are characterized by heavy rains driven by blustery winds. Local fishermen at sea are often on the lookout for signs of impending squalls on the open water and rush to shore at its early signs.
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environments created by opposing low level jet winds and synoptic winds, updrafts and consequential downdrafts can be much more intense (common in supercell mesocyclones). The cold air
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From here, a general thinning of a squall line will occur: with winds decaying over time, outflow boundaries weakening updrafts substantially and clouds losing their thickness.
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generated by the wake low when the pressure difference between the mesohigh preceding it and the wake low is intense enough. When the squall line is in the process of decay,
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is a term used offshore South Africa for a squall forming in fair weather. It is named for the appearance of the small isolated cloud marking the top of the squall.
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normally have squalls coincident with spiral bands of greater curvature than many mid-latitude systems due to their smaller size. These squalls can harbor
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can be generated near the wake low. Once new thunderstorm activity along the squall line concludes, the wake low associated with it weakens in tandem.
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The poleward end of the squall line is commonly referred to as the cyclonic end, with the equatorward side rotating anticyclonically. Because of the
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is a short but furious rainstorm with strong winds, often small in area and moving at high speed, especially as a maritime term. A strong
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As thunderstorms fill into a distinct line, strong leading-edge updrafts – occasionally visible to a ground observer in the form of a
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is characterized by strong increases of the wind forced through sharp mountain valleys on the Pacific Ocean side of the isthmus.
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As supercells and multi-cell thunderstorms dissipate due to a weak shear force or poor lifting mechanisms, (e.g. considerable
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The leading area of a squall line is composed primarily of multiple updrafts, or singular regions of an
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leaves the trailing area of the squall line to the mid-level jet, which aids in downdraft processes.
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and a dramatic temperature drop, thus ultimately replacing and relieving the prior hot conditions.
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Shelf clouds and roll clouds are usually seen above the leading edge of a squall, also known as a
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The term "squall" is used to refer to a sudden wind-speed increase lasting minutes. In 1962 the
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found widely at surface levels, usually indicative of strong (potentially damaging) winds.
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can be spawned by an intrusion of cold air aloft over a relatively warm surface layer.
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A summer squall line in Southern Ontario, producing lightning and distant heavy rains.
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Beyond the strong winds because of updraft/downdraft behavior, heavy rain (and
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Pressure perturbations within an extent of a thunderstorm are noteworthy. With
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Guide To Singapore's Weather, archived by archive.org on November 1, 2013.
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outflow occurring in fjords and inlets is referred to by mariners as a
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which exists in the vicinity of a tropical cyclone's outer bands.
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Following the initial passage of a squall line, light to moderate
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National Weather Service Forecast Office, Springfield, Missouri.
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By one version, the word appears to be Nordic in origin, but its
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In southeastern Australia, the colloquial name for a squall is
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Robert H. Johns and Jeffry S. Evans. Storm Prediction Center.
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A video recorded nearing the end of a squall, caused by a dry
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is considered obscure. It probably has its roots in the word
27: 876:. National Library of Australia. 23 December 1901. p. 2 470:, rising from ground level to the highest extensions of the 164:, which approaches from the southeast, mainly on a hot day, 1095:
10.1175/1520-0434(1999)014<0581:WLSWEI>2.0.CO;2
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is a squall emanating from tropical thunderstorms near the
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such as this one can be a sign that a squall is imminent
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winds). Because of the chaotic nature of updrafts and
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There are different versions of the word's origins:
772:squall: Definition and Much More from Answers.com 261:In most parts of the country, squalls are called 1121: 500:and lightning – usually over inland lakes (i.e. 1061: 801:. Oxford University Press. 2011. p. 1400. 358:, dangerous straight line winds, and possibly 256: 929: 927: 96:By another version, it is an alteration of 1093: 924: 784:Georoots News V.1#5: Changes in the Wind. 419: 382: 939: 536: 482:, pressure perturbations are important. 436: 311: 108: 47: 1122: 1055: 972:EUMeTrain: Case Study on Squall Line. 745: 743: 690: 688: 686: 651:can be in the form of a snow squall. 616: 586:thunderstorms may be regions of low 724:The Weather Channel. Archived from 604: 16:Short, sharp increase in wind speed 13: 753:. Australian Bureau of Meteorology 740: 683: 268: 175: 14: 1151: 798:Concise Oxford English Dictionary 702:. American Meteorological Society 639: 307: 220:Pacific Northwest (North America) 124: 115:World Meteorological Organization 41:lasting minutes, as opposed to a 1062:David M. Gaffin (October 1999). 632:due to the significant vertical 577:or lack of daytime heating) the 516:precipitation is also common. A 1103: 1040:American Meteorological Society 1024: 1004: 984: 964: 951: 913: 888: 827: 245: 37:is a sudden, sharp increase in 1111:Storm Spotter Online Training. 933:Golden Gate Weather Services. 860: 848: 821: 789: 776: 765: 714: 568: 203: 1: 676: 507: 432: 296:that form over the island of 945:National Environment Agency 456: 406: 397:mesoscale convective complex 180:Offshore Central America, a 141: 129: 68: 7: 992:Meteorology Online: Squall. 654: 461: 393:mesoscale convective system 387:There are several forms of 10: 1156: 832:. Eumetcal. Archived from 532: 257:Philippines (West Pacific) 25: 18: 855:Oxford English Dictionary 300:and move east across the 1113:Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 1021:Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 1001:Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 981:Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 961:Retrieved on 2006-11-19. 898:. WGN-TV. Archived from 786:Retrieved on 2006-12-30. 375:bow echoes are known as 346:, and may contain heavy 330:is an organized line of 26:Not to be confused with 1069:Weather and Forecasting 1036:Glossary of Meteorology 216:is a name for a squall 187: 89:word meaning literally 21:Squall (disambiguation) 959:What is a Squall Line? 957:Weatherquestions.com. 722:"Weather Glossary: S." 546: 442: 420:Pressure perturbations 383:Squall line life cycle 321: 65: 540: 440: 389:mesoscale meteorology 315: 109:Character of the wind 59: 284:" is a term used in 19:For other uses, see 1086:1999WtFor..14..581G 896:"Weather Words – B" 529:mesoscale systems. 1017:2010-05-27 at the 997:2007-02-05 at the 977:2006-10-19 at the 868:"SOUTHERLY BUSTER" 547: 443: 322: 302:Straits of Malacca 66: 970:Wilfried Jacobs. 808:978-0-19-960108-0 728:on August 1, 2008 649:Lake-effect snows 622:Tropical cyclones 617:Tropical cyclones 251:Bull's Eye Squall 226:Pacific Northwest 134:Known locally as 57: 1147: 1114: 1107: 1101: 1099: 1097: 1059: 1053: 1051: 1049: 1047: 1028: 1022: 1008: 1002: 988: 982: 968: 962: 955: 949: 943: 937: 931: 922: 917: 911: 910: 908: 907: 892: 886: 885: 883: 881: 873:Wellington Times 864: 858: 852: 846: 845: 843: 841: 836:on March 3, 2016 825: 819: 818: 816: 815: 793: 787: 780: 774: 769: 763: 762: 760: 758: 747: 738: 737: 735: 733: 718: 712: 711: 709: 707: 692: 605:Signs in the sky 166:bringing in cool 149:southerly buster 58: 1155: 1154: 1150: 1149: 1148: 1146: 1145: 1144: 1120: 1119: 1118: 1117: 1108: 1104: 1060: 1056: 1045: 1043: 1030: 1029: 1025: 1019:Wayback Machine 1009: 1005: 999:Wayback Machine 989: 985: 979:Wayback Machine 969: 965: 956: 952: 944: 940: 935:Names of Winds. 932: 925: 918: 914: 905: 903: 894: 893: 889: 879: 877: 866: 865: 861: 853: 849: 839: 837: 826: 822: 813: 811: 809: 795: 794: 790: 782:Georoots News. 781: 777: 770: 766: 756: 754: 751:"Weather Words" 749: 748: 741: 731: 729: 720: 719: 715: 705: 703: 694: 693: 684: 679: 657: 642: 619: 607: 571: 535: 510: 464: 459: 435: 422: 409: 403:thunderstorms. 385: 310: 288:and Peninsular 271: 269:South-East Asia 259: 248: 222: 206: 190: 178: 176:Central America 154:New South Wales 144: 132: 127: 111: 71: 48: 31: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1153: 1143: 1142: 1137: 1132: 1116: 1115: 1102: 1054: 1023: 1012:Derecho Facts. 1003: 983: 963: 950: 938: 923: 912: 887: 859: 847: 820: 807: 788: 775: 764: 739: 713: 681: 680: 678: 675: 674: 673: 668: 663: 656: 653: 641: 640:Winter weather 638: 618: 615: 606: 603: 570: 567: 551:coriolis force 534: 531: 509: 506: 476:synoptic scale 463: 460: 458: 455: 434: 431: 421: 418: 408: 405: 384: 381: 309: 308:Severe weather 306: 282:Sumatra squall 270: 267: 258: 255: 247: 244: 221: 218: 205: 202: 189: 186: 177: 174: 170:severe weather 143: 140: 131: 128: 126: 125:Regional terms 123: 110: 107: 106: 105: 100:influenced by 94: 70: 67: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1152: 1141: 1138: 1136: 1133: 1131: 1128: 1127: 1125: 1112: 1106: 1096: 1091: 1087: 1083: 1079: 1075: 1071: 1070: 1065: 1058: 1041: 1037: 1033: 1027: 1020: 1016: 1013: 1007: 1000: 996: 993: 987: 980: 976: 973: 967: 960: 954: 948: 942: 936: 930: 928: 921: 916: 902:on 2007-03-18 901: 897: 891: 875: 874: 869: 863: 856: 851: 835: 831: 824: 810: 804: 800: 799: 792: 785: 779: 773: 768: 752: 746: 744: 727: 723: 717: 701: 697: 691: 689: 687: 682: 672: 669: 667: 664: 662: 659: 658: 652: 650: 646: 637: 635: 631: 627: 623: 614: 612: 602: 599: 597: 593: 589: 584: 580: 576: 566: 564: 559: 554: 552: 544: 539: 530: 528: 524: 519: 515: 505: 503: 499: 495: 490: 488: 483: 481: 477: 473: 469: 454: 452: 447: 439: 430: 427: 417: 415: 404: 402: 398: 394: 390: 380: 378: 373: 369: 365: 361: 360:funnel clouds 357: 353: 349: 348:precipitation 345: 341: 337: 333: 332:thunderstorms 329: 328: 319: 314: 305: 303: 299: 295: 291: 287: 283: 278: 276: 266: 264: 254: 252: 243: 241: 240: 235: 231: 227: 217: 215: 211: 201: 199: 195: 185: 183: 173: 171: 167: 163: 159: 155: 151: 150: 139: 137: 122: 120: 116: 103: 99: 95: 92: 88: 84: 80: 76: 75: 74: 63: 46: 44: 40: 36: 29: 22: 1105: 1073: 1067: 1057: 1044:. 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Retrieved 699: 671:White squall 645:Snow squalls 643: 620: 611:thunderstorm 608: 600: 572: 555: 548: 545:is a mesolow 511: 491: 484: 465: 444: 423: 410: 386: 325: 323: 294:squall lines 279: 272: 262: 260: 250: 249: 246:South Africa 237: 229: 223: 213: 207: 193: 191: 182:gully squall 181: 179: 147: 145: 135: 133: 112: 101: 97: 90: 82: 72: 34: 32: 1080:: 581–603. 666:Squall line 626:waterspouts 596:frontolysis 579:squall line 569:Dissipation 563:heat bursts 523:squall line 502:Great Lakes 487:shelf cloud 472:troposphere 401:squall line 368:waterspouts 354:, frequent 344:front lines 327:squall line 318:shelf cloud 210:East Indies 204:East Indies 200:of Bayamo. 119:squall line 1124:Categories 1032:"Wake Low" 920:Wind Names 906:2006-11-19 814:2014-12-30 677:References 661:Rogue wave 634:wind shear 583:gust front 514:stratiform 508:Bow echoes 480:downdrafts 446:Wind shear 433:Wind shear 414:cold front 399:(MCC), to 395:(MCS) and 372:wind shear 336:hurricanes 168:, usually 62:microburst 39:wind speed 1046:March 21, 630:tornadoes 527:supercell 504:region). 457:Evolution 407:Formation 364:tornadoes 356:lightning 338:or other 286:Singapore 234:Katabatic 162:Australia 142:Australia 130:Argentina 91:to squeal 87:Old Norse 79:etymology 69:Etymology 43:wind gust 1015:Archived 995:Archived 975:Archived 880:27 March 830:"Squall" 700:Glossary 696:"Squall" 655:See also 592:humidity 558:wake low 543:wake low 518:bow echo 462:Updrafts 426:buoyancy 377:derechos 340:cyclones 290:Malaysia 275:Sulawesi 239:squamish 158:Victoria 136:pamperos 1082:Bibcode 575:terrain 533:Mesolow 498:thunder 468:updraft 451:outflow 298:Sumatra 263:subasko 224:In the 208:In the 1076:(10). 1042:. 2009 805:  590:, low 230:squall 194:bayamo 98:squeal 83:skvala 35:squall 1130:Storm 828:WMO. 214:brubu 198:Bight 28:squaw 1140:Rain 1135:Wind 1048:2018 882:2015 842:2018 803:ISBN 759:2018 734:2018 708:2018 628:and 588:CAPE 494:hail 366:and 352:hail 292:for 228:, a 188:Cuba 156:and 102:bawl 1090:doi 1078:AMS 581:or 85:an 1126:: 1088:. 1074:14 1072:. 1066:. 1038:. 1034:. 926:^ 870:. 742:^ 698:. 685:^ 598:. 556:A 541:A 416:. 379:. 362:, 350:, 324:A 316:A 277:. 242:. 212:, 192:A 160:, 121:. 33:A 1100:. 1098:. 1092:: 1084:: 1052:. 1050:. 909:. 884:. 844:. 817:. 761:. 736:. 710:. 280:" 104:. 93:. 30:. 23:.

Index

Squall (disambiguation)
squaw
wind speed
wind gust
microburst
etymology
Old Norse
World Meteorological Organization
squall line
southerly buster
New South Wales
Victoria
Australia
bringing in cool
severe weather
Bight
East Indies
Pacific Northwest
Katabatic
squamish
Sulawesi
Sumatra squall
Singapore
Malaysia
squall lines
Sumatra
Straits of Malacca

shelf cloud
squall line

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