MLchartDataset catalogue

Air mass thunderstorm

Term · Meteorology and atmospheric science · MLC-T-MET-000091

Generally, a thunderstorm not associated with a front or other type of synoptic-scale forcing mechanism. Air mass thunderstorms typically are associated with warm, humid air in the summer months; they develop during the afternoon in response to insolation, and dissipate rather quickly after sunset. They generally are less likely to be severe than other types of thunderstorms, but they still are capable of producing downbursts, brief heavy rain, and (in extreme cases) hail over 3/4 inch in diameter.

Since all thunderstorms are associated with some type of forcing mechanism, synoptic-scale or otherwise, the existence of true air-mass thunderstorms is debatable.

Table 1. Record
IdentifierMLC-T-MET-000091
FieldMeteorology and atmospheric science
ReferencesNWS Glossary
Record as JSON
{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-000091",
  "term": "Air mass thunderstorm",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "term_source": "Air Mass Thunderstorm",
  "definition": "Generally, a thunderstorm not associated with a front or other type of synoptic-scale forcing mechanism. Air mass thunderstorms typically are associated with warm, humid air in the summer months; they develop during the afternoon in response to insolation, and dissipate rather quickly after sunset. They generally are less likely to be severe than other types of thunderstorms, but they still are capable of producing downbursts, brief heavy rain, and (in extreme cases) hail over 3/4 inch in diameter.\n\nSince all thunderstorms are associated with some type of forcing mechanism, synoptic-scale or otherwise, the existence of true air-mass thunderstorms is debatable.",
  "references": [
    "NWS Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/air-mass-thunderstorm/"
}

Record 316 of 10,816 in Meteorology and atmospheric science terminology (MLC-0110). Request the full dataset.