Week 11 - Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Mid-morning is the time of day when tornadoes are most likely to occur. T OR F

False

A squall line is most likely to develop where?

along a dryline in the warm sector of a mid-latitude cyclone

in the middle of a cP air mass

along a warm front

along a cold front

along a dryline in the warm sector of a mid-latitude cyclone

The Enhanced -Fujita Intensity Scale (EF-scale) is applied to:

tornadoes.

typhoons.

thunderstorms.

lightning.

tornadoes.

Lightning always occurs between a cloud and the ground. T OR F

False

Updrafts dominance relate to the ________ in the development of a thunderstorm.

cumulus stage

mature stage

dissipating stage

cumulus stage

A tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for tornado development. T OR F

False

The terms leader, flash, and stroke are used when describing lightning. T OR F

True

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

a high-altitude tornado

the rotation of the updraft in the parent thunderstorm

a false-alarm tornado warning

a very large tornado

the rotation of the updraft in the parent thunderstorm

Which of the following statement is true concerning thunderstorms?

precipitation tends to be intense, but localized

All the answers are correct

they are associated with cumulonimbus clouds

some may produce tornadoes

some are essentially a convectional storm

All the answers are correct

Thunderstorms form when ________, humid air rises in a(n) ________ environment.

 cold; unstable

 cold; stable

 warm; stable

warm; unstable

warm; unstable

The strongest tornados are ranked ________ on the Enhanced Fujita Intensity Scale.

EF-5

The central United States sees more tornadoes than any other region in the world. T OR F

True

Tornadoes occur most frequently:

in Hawaii

in Texas and Oklahoma

along the Pacific Coast of North America

 to the lee of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

in Texas and Oklahoma

Because of the tremendous pressure gradient associated with a strong tornado, maximum winds approach ________ miles per hour.

300

1000

100

600

300

Weak tornadoes (EF0-EF1) are responsible for the majority of tornado deaths because they are far more common than stronger tornadoes (EF2 and above). T OR F

False

Tornadoes are most frequent during the:

summer

fall

winter

spring

spring

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

the rotation of the updraft in the parent thunderstorm

a high-altitude tornado

a false-alarm tornado warning

a very large tornado

the rotation of the updraft in the parent thunderstorm

Why are air mass thunderstorms most likely to occur in the midafternoon?

 It takes all day for them to mature.

 Water-vapor contents are too low at night.

 Upper-level winds are too fast at night and in morning.

Atmosphere is most unstable at that time.

Atmosphere is most unstable at that time.

Which type of lightning is most frequent? (Check all that apply)

within the same cloud

cloud-to-Earth

cloud-to-cloud

within the same cloud

cloud-to-cloud

A squall line with severe thunderstorms can also form along a boundary called a dryline, a narrow zone along which there is an abrupt change in moisture. T OR F

True

Generally there are three stages involved in the development of thunderstorms. They are:

cumulus stage, mature stage, and deconstructing stage.

cumulus stage, mature stage, and dissipating stage.

 cumulus stage, dissipating stage, and deconstructing stage.

 cumulus stage, adolescent stage, and dissipating stage.

cumulus stage, mature stage, and dissipating stage.

The terms leader, flash, and stroke are used when describing lightning. T OR F

True

What causes the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm?

 loss of radiant energy from cloud top

 release of latent heat within the cloud

spreading downdraft cuts off air inflow

 converging surface winds

spreading downdraft cuts off air inflow

Tornadoes are cyclones. T OR F

True

A tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for tornado development. T OR F

False

Tornadoes are most frequent during the:

 fall

summer

 winter

 spring

Spring

Downdrafts and updrafts found side by side occur during the ________ in the life cycle of an air mass thunderstorm.

 dissipating stage

mature stage

 cumulus stage

 birth stage

mature stage

Which of the following statement is true concerning thunderstorms?

 some are essentially a convectional storm

 they are associated with cumulonimbus clouds

 precipitation tends to be intense, but localized

 some may produce tornadoes

All the answers are correct

All the answers are correct

Drylines are capable of producing thunderstorms because:

the moist air mass lifts the dry air mass.

the dry air mass forces the moist air mass to rise.

there is an abrupt change in temperature across the dryline.

the dry air mass is unstable and rising.

the dry air mass forces the moist air mass to rise.

Which type of lightning is least likely?

 within the same cloud

cloud-to-Earth

 cloud-to-cloud

cloud-to-Earth

The terms leader, flash, and stroke are used when describing

 squall line formation.

 the stages of a thunderstorm.

 a tornado.

lightning.

lightning