GEOG306 Lecture 7: Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Note

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Geography and Environmental Management
• Course: GEOG306
• Professor: Amber Silver

Document Summary

Weather conditions pose a threat to life or property. Risk of hazardous weather has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, or timing is still uncertain. Used for less serious conditions than warnings, that cause significant inconvenience and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life or property. In canada, environment canada is responsible for issuing all watches and warnings. Media sources, such as the weather network, cannot issue their own watches or warnings. Three stages: developing stage, mature stage, and dissipating stage. Developing (cumulus) stage: warm moist air is forced aloft; it cools and water condenses, building the cumulus cloud: mature stage: rainfall creates downdrafts. The most intense rainfall, thunder and lightning occur during the mature stage. Dissipating stage: the thunderstorm weakens and eventually rains itself out . Hazards researchers are primarily interested in cloud-to-ground (cg) lightning. Damage from hailstones in the us and canada averages >. 8 billion usd annually.