It was hard to breathe in heavy moist air all day long. In the afternoon dark low clouds rolled in, a strong wind blew, and after a while a violent storm broke out.In summer, rain is much needed in the garden, but the horror is caused by the destructive force of storms, rainstorms or hail.
In the face of violent, devastating antics, we are still helpless. The only comforting fact is that heavy storms usually occur in a small area. While in one place a storm broke trees and the cellars are full of water, a few kilometers away, only a few raindrops fell and a slightly stronger wind blew.
Storm formation
The appearance of storms depends not only on the baric patterns and shifting atmospheric fronts, but also on the terrainIn mountain and foothill areas, storms are a common occurrence and appear unexpectedly as air movements are rapid and the weather can change rapidly.It is different in the plains and lowlands. The approaching storm can be seen from afar. The sky gradually darkens, the pressure and temperature drop, and the humidity rises.
We can use a long-known rule to judge how far away the storm is. If the thunder is three seconds away from the lightning, the storm is about 1 km away. When it is further away, the gap between the lightning and the thunder is greater - one second corresponds to a distance of approximately 340 m.The danger of being struck by lightning close to us is already at a distance of 10 km.
Garden plants are more harmed by hail than lightning and thunder.In a storm cloud, ice crystals rise and fall repeatedly, gradually increasing in volume. When they are too heavy, they fall to the ground.Gradziny can reach speeds of over 50 km / h. Their size depends on the strength of storm processes in the cloud.Unfortunately, in recent years there has been an increase in storms with hail, which meteorologists associate with progressing climate change.
Once the storm is over, we check what damage it has done. If they are small, we are happy to notice that the air is fresh and the plants are well watered.
Overview of the most important types of clouds
Clouds are formed from water. They are formed by tiny droplets or ice crystals.The different types and species of clouds are distinguished by certain shapes and colors.Some help to predict the upcoming weather changes.
- Cumulonimbus clouds are the most powerful clouds that rise many kilometers high. They can transform into storm clouds with a characteristic anvil at the top.
- Rain clouds (Nimbostratus) are gray in color. They are often very large and tall with blurred outlines. They can give you prolonged rainfall.
- Pinnate clouds (Cirrostratus) often take the form of a pale, thin and transparent coating at high altitude.
- Medium layered clouds (Altostratus) are gray-blue and can almost completely block the sun. They can bring a drizzle.
- Layered clouds (Stratus) are low clouds, they form a white or gray coating, often with a drizzle.
Circular clouds come in many forms
- Cirrus fibratus clouds
- Hook-like feathery clouds (Cirrus uncinus). These are tall and bright ice clouds.
- Pinnate-cumulus clouds (Cirrocumulus) are the so-called lambs. They are formed by ice crystals.
- Medium cumulus clouds (Altocumulus) have a dark base but do not rain.
- Cumulus clouds provide fine weather with blue skies.
Types of storms
Thermal stormsoccur mainly in the summer, often in the afternoon or evening. The sun heats the air above the ground, which becomes saturated with moisture. When the upper layers of the atmosphere are noticeably cooler, warm and humid air rises to the top.It cools down and forms Cumulonimbus clouds reaching a height of several kilometers.Strong rising and falling currents appear in the cloud. Electric charges are created, the accumulation of which causes discharges in the form of lightning.
Front thunderstormsmost often occur in the zone of the cold front in contact with the masses of warm air. Cold, heavier air squeezes under the lighter warm air. The rising warm masses cool down and storm clouds form - similar to thermal storms.Frontal storms most often cause a drop in temperature and a change in weather.
