Dry line

Term · Meteorology and atmospheric science · MLC-T-MET-000783

A boundary separating moist and dry air masses, and an important factor in
severe weather frequency in the Great Plains. It typically lies north-south across
the central and southern high Plains states during the spring and early summer,
where it separates moist air from the Gulf of Mexico (to the east) and dry desert
air from the southwestern states (to the west). The dry line typically advances
eastward during the afternoon and retreats westward at night. However, a strong
storm system can sweep the dry line eastward into the Mississippi Valley, or
even further east, regardless of the time of day.

A typical dry line passage results in a sharp drop in humidity (hence the name),
clearing skies, and a wind shift from south or southeasterly to west or
southwesterly. (Blowing dust and rising temperatures also may follow, especially
if the dry line passes during the daytime. These changes occur in reverse order
when the dry line retreats westward. Severe and sometimes tornadic
thunderstorms often develop along a dry line or in the moist air just to the east of
it, especially when it begins moving eastward.

Table 1. Record
Identifier	MLC-T-MET-000783
Field	Meteorology and atmospheric science
References	NWS Glossary

Record as JSON

{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-000783",
  "term": "Dry line",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "term_source": "Dry Line",
  "definition": "A boundary separating moist and dry air masses, and an important factor in\nsevere weather frequency in the Great Plains. It typically lies north-south across\nthe central and southern high Plains states during the spring and early summer,\nwhere it separates moist air from the Gulf of Mexico (to the east) and dry desert\nair from the southwestern states (to the west). The dry line typically advances\neastward during the afternoon and retreats westward at night. However, a strong\nstorm system can sweep the dry line eastward into the Mississippi Valley, or\neven further east, regardless of the time of day.\n\nA typical dry line passage results in a sharp drop in humidity (hence the name),\nclearing skies, and a wind shift from south or southeasterly to west or\nsouthwesterly. (Blowing dust and rising temperatures also may follow, especially\nif the dry line passes during the daytime. These changes occur in reverse order\nwhen the dry line retreats westward. Severe and sometimes tornadic\nthunderstorms often develop along a dry line or in the moist air just to the east of\nit, especially when it begins moving eastward.",
  "references": [
    "NWS Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/dry-line/"
}

Record 2,913 of 10,816 in Meteorology and atmospheric science terminology (MLC-0110). Request the full dataset.