Multicellular thunderstorm
Encyclopedia
A multicellular thunderstorm cluster is a thunderstorm
that is composed of multiple cells, each being at a different stage in the life cycle of a thunderstorm. It looks like several anvils clustered together. A cell is an updraft/downdraft couplet. These different cells will dissipate as new cells form and continue the life of the multicellular thunderstorm cluster with each cell taking a turn as the dominant cell in the group. New cells usually form in the upwind (usually western or southwestern) part of the storm, mature cells are usually in the center of the storm, and dissipating cells are usually in the downwind (usually eastern or northeastern) part of the storm. The multicellular storm cluster can last for hours while each individual cell should only last for about 20 minutes. These storms can sometimes be severe and sometimes have awkward paths due to the thunderstorm sometimes not following the path of the cells that compose it. Any severe activity in one of these storms will most likely come from the dominant cell near or after its peak updraft strength. This is because there could be severe hail
from a strong updraft that lasts only a short period of time. With damaging winds. A multicellular storm can sometimes become a Mesoscale Convective System
(MCS) or be a squall line
.
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
that is composed of multiple cells, each being at a different stage in the life cycle of a thunderstorm. It looks like several anvils clustered together. A cell is an updraft/downdraft couplet. These different cells will dissipate as new cells form and continue the life of the multicellular thunderstorm cluster with each cell taking a turn as the dominant cell in the group. New cells usually form in the upwind (usually western or southwestern) part of the storm, mature cells are usually in the center of the storm, and dissipating cells are usually in the downwind (usually eastern or northeastern) part of the storm. The multicellular storm cluster can last for hours while each individual cell should only last for about 20 minutes. These storms can sometimes be severe and sometimes have awkward paths due to the thunderstorm sometimes not following the path of the cells that compose it. Any severe activity in one of these storms will most likely come from the dominant cell near or after its peak updraft strength. This is because there could be severe hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
from a strong updraft that lasts only a short period of time. With damaging winds. A multicellular storm can sometimes become a Mesoscale Convective System
Mesoscale Convective System
A mesoscale convective system is a complex of thunderstorms that becomes organized on a scale larger than the individual thunderstorms but smaller than extratropical cyclones, and normally persists for several hours or more...
(MCS) or be a squall line
Squall line
A squall line is a line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. It contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts....
.