Quiz 10 - Thunderstorms, Lightning, & Tornadoes

Which stage of thunderstorm development is dominated by downdrafts?

Dissipating

Microbursts are the result of what?

Strong horizontal pressure gradient.

What is the basic cause of lightning?

A large charge separation.

For a thunderstorm to be classified as severe, the winds must be what or have hail that is what?

60 kts; >5 in

Most tornadoes move in which direction?

True (Northeast)

The Enhanced Fujita Scale is applied to which phenomenon?

Tornadoes

EF-5 hurricanes are the most common but do they do the least amount of damage?

False

What does the term mesocyclone refer to in reference to a tornado?

The area of rotation in a thunderstorm.

Most lightning is cloud-ground. True or False?

True

What was so unusual about the 2011 tornado season?

The spring had a record number of tornadoes and fatalities.