Seasonal Thunderstorms in South Florida

Do they have a tendency to be more volatile?

Thunderstorms are a common occurrence during the long summer rainy season in South Florida. On occasion, these thunderstorms can have a tendency to become volatile reaching strong and even severe levels. As a long time resident of South Florida, this consultant has noticed that there seems to be a higher number of these volatile thunderstorms at the very beginning of the rainy season. This consultant offers the following theories in support of these beliefs.

Thunderstorms result from the instability of the atmosphere. However, in terms of the atmospheric dynamics, this consultant believes that the event of the thunderstorm is the actual atmosphere trying to balance itself back to stability. With that stated, consider the climatology of the South Florid area just before the onset of the rainy season which would usually be mid spring (April to mid May). During this time of the year, one would normally expect to be in the dry season. During this dry season, the atmosphere would have a tendency to be in a "more stable environment". Usually around the latter part of May, the atmosphere begins to show increases in moisture. Combining this with temperatures in the mid to upper 80's, normally begins to introduce an unstable atmosphere, and eventually, the development of thunderstorms. Following my belief that during the thunderstorm event, the atmosphere is trying to stabilize itself, and the atmosphere will "swing" back to the "more stable environment". If one compares this atmospheric event to the middle of the rainy season, the atmosphere would ordinarily begin in a "less stable environment". As the typical heating of the day progresses, the atmosphere becomes more unstable, thunderstorms develop, and the atmosphere begins to balance itself back to stability. However this time, the "swing" is not as great, because it is swinging back to the "less stable environment". The end result would be thunderstorms that are less volatile. Conversely, the swing back to a "more stable environment" would result in thunderstorms that are more volatile.

Consultant Conclusion

As we understand more of the dynamics of our earth's atmosphere, perhaps this theory of the earlier seasonal thunderstorms in South Florida will be proven, and if so, this knowledge can be used to better inform the public in order to protect both life and property.

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