Multiscale Aspects of Thunderstorm Gust Fronts and Their Effects on Subsequent Storm Development

Abstract

An investigation of severe storms that occurred on 23 May 1974 in central Oklahoma reveals interesting information on the multifaceted role of thunderstorm-produced gust fronts. The data reveal that the interaction of outflow boundaries with a cold front initiate the storms studied in this report. Then, the gust fronts produced by these storms have important effects on their own structure and life histories. Detailed Doppler analysis show that these storms propagate discretely along their outflow boundaries despite their supercell structure. Additionally, one storm is affected by its interaction with the boundary produced by a previous storm. This interaction appears responsible for tornadogenesis.