Quick Question about Thunder Storm behavior.

[Midd_Knight]

A small question. I live in south texas, about 60 miles west of Corpus Christi, the county I live in (Duvall County) has a decent amount of activity.

However, I can always easily notice that our thunder storms are far more severe wen they come out of the west, through the mountains in mexico, and sweap east twards Laredo, and on into Corpus.

What I don't know, is why? I wondered if anyone could give me a quick idea about it.

Thanks for any information a head of time.


Cheers!

[weatherlover427]

One reason is that the Mountain west of you cause an uplifting force creating the uplift for thunderstorm development as they push east into your area mostly in the summer I would say. And in spring a Dryline comes from the west, and goes east, so that would be the basic why thunderstorms come that way.

[Aslkahuna]

Airmass contrasts, wind shear and dynamics are also usually better for severe storm formation when the Upper flow is westerly. The vertical moisture distribution would tend to be better for strong storms with the cap in place with westerly flow. When the flow is from the SE or east then you might have high CAPE but no cap and would tend to have pulse type storms usually with copious rain but usually nowhere near as severe or long lasting as the dynamics driven storms from the west.

Steve

[Midd_Knight]

Thank you both greatly for the information. It surely answers my question.


Cheers!

~ Derrick