Weather Encyclopedia

Thunderstorm Climatology

Like tornadoes, thunderstorms can occur at any time of the year and just about anywhere in the world. Thunderstorms are often classified by where they form and what kind of weather they produce.

Severe thunderstorms are most prevalent during the spring and fall, while air mass thunderstorms are usually associated with certain geographic regions, and others are associated with frontal systems.

The risk of lightning is perhaps the most common and deadly of what can occur with a thunderstorm.

An air mass generated thunderstorm is typically associated with a warm, moist air mass that is in place over a region and usually occurs during the summertime.

Thunderstorms associated with approaching frontal systems are characteristically more severe than air mass type thunderstorms. Squall lines and tornadic development may be associated with this type of thunderstorm development.