Why do some thunderstorms suddenly collapse into heavy rain and cool air after being so intense?
Quick Answer
As rain and hail fall through dry air, evaporation and melting cool the air, making it denser and causing a downdraft. That cold air rushes outward at the ground as a gust front.
The Full Story
Thunderstorms can build strong updrafts, but once precipitation grows heavy, some of it falls into drier air below the cloud. Evaporation and melting absorb heat, cooling the air column and making it denser than the air around it. The cooled air sinks rapidly, producing a downdraft that can spread out as a cool, gusty outflow at the surface. This is one reason a storm may feel oppressive and then suddenly become windy, cooler, and rainy in just minutes.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"How does a storm go from booming to blasting a cold gust front?"
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