convective system convective system complex thunderstorms organized scale larger individual thunderstorms smaller extratropical cyclones normally hours convective system overall cloud precipitation pattern round linear shape include weather systems tropical cyclones lines lake effect snow events polar lows generally form near weather fronts type forms warm season land noted north_america europe asia maximum activity noted late afternoon evening hours forms develop tropics use monsoon focus development generally warm season spring fall exception lake effect snow bands form cold air moving relatively warm bodies water occurs fall spring polar lows second special class form high latitudes cold season parent dies later thunderstorm development occur connection remnant convective vortex convective systems important united_states rainfall great plains bring region half annual warm season rainfall definition convective systems thunderstorm regions round linear shape order kilometres direction smaller extratropical cyclones include systems tropical cyclones lines term includes systems satisfy size shape duration criteria tend form near weather fronts areas thickness areas low mid level temperature gradient generally thunderstorm clusters warm sector extratropical cyclones warm fronts form zones tropics formation noted worldwide far east deep tropics convective systems important united_states rainfall great plains bring region half annual warm season rainfall types convective complex convective complex unique kind convective system defined characteristics observed infrared satellite imagery area cold cloud tops exceeds square kilometres temperature equal area cloud square kilometres temperature equal size definitions met hours greater maximum extent defined cloud shield overall cloud formation reaches maximum area minor axis major axis greater equal maximum extent fairly round long lived nocturnal formation tend form overnight commonly contain heavy rainfall wind hail lightning possibly tornadoes line line elongated line severe thunderstorms form ahead cold early 20th century term synonym cold line contains heavy precipitation hail frequent lightning strong straight line winds possibly tornadoes severe weather form strong straight line winds expected areas line shape bow echo portion line bows tornadoes found waves line echo wave pattern low pressure areas present bow echoes develop summer season known fast large sections territory edge rain shield associated mature lines wake low form low pressure area forms high pressure system normally present rain canopy associated heat burst tropical cyclone tropical cyclone fairly storm system characterized low pressure center numerous thunderstorms produce strong winds flooding rain tropical cyclone feeds heat released moist air rises resulting water contained moist air fueled different heat mechanism cyclonic european polar lows leading classification warm core storm systems term tropical refers geographic origin systems form tropical regions globe formation air masses term cyclone refers storms cyclonic nature rotation clockwise rotation depending location strength tropical cyclones referred names hurricane typhoon tropical storm cyclonic storm tropical depression simply cyclone generally speaking tropical cyclone referred hurricane ancient central american deity wind atlantic eastern pacific oceans typhoon northwest pacific ocean cyclone southern hemisphere indian ocean tropical cyclones produce extremely powerful winds torrential rain high waves damaging storm surge develop large bodies warm water lose strength land reason coastal regions receive significant damage tropical cyclone inland regions relatively safe strong winds heavy rains produce significant flooding inland storm produce extensive coastal flooding kilometres coastline effects human populations devastating tropical cyclones relieve drought conditions carry heat energy away tropics transport temperate latitudes makes important global atmospheric circulation mechanism result tropical cyclones help maintain earth maintain relatively stable warm tropical cyclones develop atmospheric conditions weak disturbance atmosphere favorable form types cyclones acquire tropical characteristics tropical systems moved steering winds conditions remain favorable tropical disturbance develop eye end spectrum conditions system deteriorate tropical cyclone makes landfall system eventually tropical cyclone extratropical moves higher latitudes energy source changes heat released differences temperature air masses operational standpoint tropical cyclone usually considered subtropical cyclone extratropical transition lake effect snow lake effect snow produced winter shape elongated bands cold winds long warmer lake water providing energy picking water deposited lee shores effect bodies salt water called ocean effect snow sea effect snow bay effect snow effect enhanced moving air mass effect higher elevations shores uplifting produce narrow intense bands precipitation deposited rate inches snow hour brings snowfall totals areas affected lake effect snow called effect occurs locations world best known populated areas great lakes north_america air temperature low precipitation frozen falls lake effect rain order lake effect rain snow form air moving lake significantly cooler surface air likely near temperature water surface specifically air temperature altitude air pressure kilometres altitude lower temperature air surface lake effect occurring air colder water temperature produce snow showers accompanied lightning thunder larger energy available increased instability polar low polar low small scale short lived atmospheric low pressure system depression found ocean areas main polar northern systems usually horizontal length scale kilometres exist couple days larger class weather systems polar lows difficult detect conventional weather reports hazard high latitude operations shipping gas oil platforms polar lows referred terms polar vortex arctic hurricane arctic low cold air depression today term usually reserved vigorous systems near surface winds metres second mph form great plains united_states time period plains thunderstorm areas prevalent ranges september convective systems develop region time frame bulk activity occurring local time convective systems bring percent annual warm season rainfall plains systems known convective complexes lead annual rainfall plains midwest lines account large thunderstorm complexes region europe form continent form second half august september western mediterranean_sea triggering europe strongly tied mountain ranges average european moves east northeast forming near local solar time lasts hours dissipating near europe form maximum heating average maximum extent square kilometres tropics convective systems evolve tropical cyclones form areas tropical waves easterly waves progress westward monsoon regions ample low level moisture surface winds winds aloft typically occurs north equator africa atlantic eastern pacific oceans northwest southwest pacific oceans australia eastward oceania indian ocean indonesia southeast brazil southern atlantic ocean noted occasion southeast pacific ocean mild cool years outside intense systems form land water lee warm water bodies winter cases lake effect snow polar lows convective systems form warm water bodies cold air sweeps surface leads increase moisture significant vertical motion vertical motion leads development showers thunderstorms areas cyclonic flow extratropical cyclones remnants convective mid level low pressure center pulls winds pattern vortex parent dies vortex persist lead future convective development core miles miles kilometres deep occasionally spawn surface low pressure area appears surface weather analyses life days parent dissipated orphaned seed thunderstorm outbreak moves tropical waters gulf_of_mexico serve nucleus tropical storm hurricane
Mesoscale convective system