Weather Education
Weather Wise
Plain-language and technical weather education. Articles are reviewed for accuracy and cite their sources.
Supercell Thunderstorms: The Rotating Giants of Severe Weather
Supercell thunderstorms are powerful, long-lived storms defined by a rotating updraft called a mesocyclone. They are responsible for many of the most significant severe weather events, including large hail, damaging winds, flash flooding, frequent lightning, and the strongest tornadoes.
8 min read
QLCS: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds Hidden Inside Squall Lines
A QLCS, or Quasi-Linear Convective System, is a line or broken line of thunderstorms capable of producing widespread damaging winds, embedded circulations, brief tornadoes, and rapidly changing severe weather conditions. Unlike classic supercell thunderstorms, QLCS tornadoes often form quickly within a larger storm line, can be rain-wrapped, and are especially challenging to detect at night.
5 min read