WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
welcome
 
online guides
 
archives
 
educational cd-rom
 
current weather
 
about ww2010
 
index

Online Guides
 
introduction
 
meteorology
 
remote sensing
 
reading maps
 
projects, activities

Meteorology
 
introduction
 
air masses, fronts
 
clouds, precipitation
 
el nino
 
forces, winds
 
hurricanes
 
hydrologic cycle
 
light, optics
 
midlatitude cyclones
 
severe storms
 
weather forecasting

Severe Storms
 
introduction
 
dangers of t-storms
 
types of t-storms
 
tstorm components
 
tornadoes
 
modeling

Types of T-storms
 
storm spectrum
 
single cell storms
 
multicell clusters
 
multicell lines
 
supercells

Multicell Clusters
 
introduction
 
components
 
development
 
perspectives
 
life cycle
 
evolving storm

User Interface
 
graphics
text

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Components of Multicell Clusters
moderate dangers with some severe risk

[Image: radar image of mulicell storms (50K)] Radar (PPI mode) often reflects the multicell nature of these storms, as seen with the central echo mass and its three light red (in this case VIP 5) cores in this photo. Occasionally, a multicell storm will appear unicellular in a low-level radar scan, but will display several distinct tops when a tilt sequence is used to view the storm in its upper extremities.

The close proximity of updrafts within the multicell cluster storm results in updraft competition for the warm, moist low-level air. Thus, updrafts never attain extremely strong vertical velocities and each has a short life span when compared to a supercell updraft. Naturally, multicell severe weather usually is less intense than that from supercells, but still can be quite potent, with marble to golf ball size hail and 60 to 80 MPH winds not uncommon.

[Image: low-level horizontal cross section through multicell cluster (43K)]

This low-level, horizontal cross-section depicts a severe multicell storm or marginal supercell where the gust front typically has moved out ahead of and "undercut" the updraft area and possible wall cloud. Although the storm might well be severe, tornado production from the updraft/wall cloud area is unlikely.



introduction
Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

development