Types of Thunderstorms

Not all thunderstorms can be classified neatly into one of these types. This listing is ordered from most common and least severe to least common and most severe.

- Single Cell (Sometimes called Air Mass Thunderstorms)

- Scattered, late afternoon, summertime storms

- Size: typically less than a couple of miles across

- Short lasting, typically 1 hour or less

- Multicell Cluster Storms

- Group of cells moving as a single unit with each cell in a different stage of thunderstorm development

- Since new cells develop as older ones die, multicell cluster storms can last for several hours

- Multicell lines (Often called Squall lines)

- Line of storms (composed of many individual cells) that move together as the line moves

- Often (but not always) associated with cold fronts

- Lines may be 500 or more miles long

- Lines may last for several hours and move hundreds of miles

- Mesoscale Convective Complexes (MCCs)

- Cluster of many interacting storm cells, which act as an organized unit

- Often the cluster takes on a huge circular or oval shape

- Can be as large as entire states, such as Nebraska or Kansas

- Can live for 6 hours or more (sometimes all night long)

- Supercells

- Single, large storm, characterized by deep, rotating updrafts.

- 10 to 30 miles across

- Most strong tornadoes are associated with supercells

- Last for hours

More information and pictures of thunderstorms and severe weather can be found at http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/svr/home.rxml