Heat burst
In meteorology, a heat burst is a rare atmospheric phenomenon characterised by gusty winds and a rapid increase in temperature and decrease in dew point (moisture). Heat bursts typically occur during night-time and are associated with decaying thunderstorms.[1]
Although this phenomenon is not fully understood, it is theorized that the event is caused when rain evaporates (virga) into a parcel of cold dry air high in the atmosphere making the air denser than its surroundings.[2] The parcel descends rapidly, warming due to compression, overshoots its equilibrium level and reaches the surface, similar to a downburst.[3]
Recorded temperatures during heat bursts have reached well above 90 °F (32 °C), sometimes rising by 20 °F (11 °C) or more within only a few minutes. More extreme events have also been documented, where temperatures have been reported to exceed 120 °F (49 °C), although such extreme events have never been officially verified. Heat bursts are also characterised by extremely dry air and are sometimes associated with very strong, even damaging, winds.
Some documented cases
- Atlantic, Iowa, August 23, 2011: The observation at the Atlantic AWOS at 7:25pm local time had a temperature of 102 °F (39 °C) and a dewpoint of 7 °F (−14 °C). Three observations prior to this (6:55 pm), the temperature was 88 °F (31 °C) degrees and the dewpoint was 64 °F (18 °C). The 7 °F (−14 °C) dewpoint is considered likely to be incorrect, however, as AWOS stations have been known to have issues with dewpoints in low humidity environments. Scattered wind damage was also reported in association with the heat bursts, with one wind observation as high as 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).[4][5][6]
- Indianapolis, Indiana, July 3, 2011: Observations around 1:30 AM EDT in the area indicated the temperature rose and the dewpoint dropped nearly 15 degrees in a less than an hour, causing the relative humidity to drop nearly 40-50%. Winds increased rapidly, with gusts to near 50 mph. One NWS Indianapolis employee reported that his neighbor's patio furniture ended up in his backyard. The observation site at Eagle Creek Airpark (KEYE) best observed the temperature, dewpoint, and pressure changes. The site at Indianapolis International Airport (KIND) observed the strongest wind gusts associated with the heat burst. [7]
- Wichita, Kansas, June 9, 2011: Temperatures rose from 85 °F (29 °C) to 102 °F (39 °C) between 12:22 AM and 12:42 AM. The heat burst caused some wind damage (40-50 mph) and local residents reported the phenomenon to area weather stations.[8]
- Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 29, 2009: After a day with extremely high and unusual temperatures that peaked over 93.9 °F (34.4 °C) (air temperature 101.6 °F (38.7 °C)), at late midnight temperatures rose from 87.8 °F (31.0 °C) to 94.2 °F (34.6 °C) in a matter of minutes with wind gusts over 37 miles per hour (60 km/h) [9]
- Delmarva Peninsula, April 26, 2009: Temperatures rose from 68 °F (20 °C) to 87 °F (31 °C) between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM following a series of heat bursts across the Eastern Shore. Double-digit temperature increases were reported from 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM at Salisbury, Maryland (+13), Ocean City, Maryland (+11), and Wallops Island, Virginia (+10). [10]
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota, August 3, 2008: Temperatures rose rapidly from the lower 70 °F (21 °C) to 101 °F (38 °C) in a matter of minutes. Wind speeds also rose with gusts up to 50–60 mph (80–97 km/h).[11]
- Cozad, Nebraska, June 26, 2008: Wind gusts reached 75 miles per hour (121 km/h), as the temperature rose 20 °F (11 °C)[12] in a matter of minutes.[13]
- Midland, Texas, June 16, 2008: At 11:25 pm a wind gust of 62 mph (100 km/h) occurred, and the temperature rose from 71 °F (21.7 °C) to 97 °F (36.1 °C) in minutes.[14] (These measurements were taken from miles away, and theories point to 80–100 mph (130–160 km/h) winds in a 2–3 block perimeter.)[15]
- Emporia, Kansas, 25 May 2008: Reported temperature jumped from 71 °F (21.7 °C) to 91 °F (32.8 °C) between 4:44 am and 5:11 am (CDT)[16] as the result of wind activity from a slow moving thunderstorm some 40 miles (64 km) to the southwest.
- Canby, Minnesota, 16 July 2006: A heat burst formed in Western Minnesota, pushing Canby's temperature to 100 °F (37.8 °C), and causing a wind gust of 63 mph (55 kn; 101 km/h). The dew point fell from 70 °F (21.1 °C) to 32 °F (0 °C) over the course of one hour.[17]
- Hastings, Nebraska, 20 June 2006: During the early morning the surface temperature abruptly increased from approximately 75 °F (23.9 °C) to 94 °F (34.4 °C).[18][19]
- Sheppard Air Force Base Wichita Falls, Texas, 12 June 2004: During late evening the surface temperature abruptly increased from approximately 83 °F (28.3 °C) to 94 °F (34.4 °C) and causing a wind gust of 72 mph (63 kn; 116 km/h). The dew point fell from 70 °F (21.1 °C) to 39 °F (3.9 °C)[20][21]
- Minnesota and South Dakota, March 26, 1998: A temperature increase of 10–20 °F (6-11 °C) was reported in the towns of Marshall, Minnesota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Brookings, South Dakota, and Montrose, South Dakota during a two-hour period.[22]
- Oklahoma, May 22–May 23, 1996: The temperature in the towns of Chickasha rose from 87.6 °F (30.9 °C) to 101.9 °F (38.8 °C) in just 25 minutes, while the temperature at Ninnekah rose from 87.9 °F (31.1 °C) to 101.4 °F (39 °C) in 40 minutes. In addition, wind damage was reported as winds gusted to 95 mph (153 km/h) in Lawton, 67 mph (108 km/h) in Ninnekah, and 63 mph (101 km/h) in Chickasha.[23]
- Kopperl, Texas, 1960: A heat burst sent the air temperature to near 140 °F (60 °C), supposedly causing cotton crops to become desiccated and drying out vegetation.[24]
- Portugal, July 6, 1949: A heat burst reportedly drove the air temperature from 38 °C (100.4 °F) to 70 °C (158.0 °F) two minutes later (note that the highest temperature formally recognized on the Earth is 57.8 °C (136.0 °F) in Libya in 1922, and the former record has not been verified).[25]
- Cherokee, Oklahoma, 11 July 1909: at 3:00 in the morning, a heat burst south of Cherokee, Oklahoma reportedly caused the temperature to rise briefly to 136 °F (57.8 °C), desiccating crops in the area.[26]
See also
References
- ^ American Meterological Society. (2000). Glossary of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society. ISBN 1878220349. http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=heat-burst1.
- ^ "Oklahoma "heat burst" sends temperatures soaring". USA Today. 1999-07-08. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wheatbst.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ Johnson, Jeffrey (December 2003). "Examination of a Long-Lived Heat Burst Event in the Northern Plains". National Weather Digest (National Weather Association) 27: 27–34. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QRG/is_27/ai_n11836123.
- ^ "Heat Burst Affects Southwest Iowa". National Weather Service Des Moines, Iowa. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=dmx&storyid=72161&source=0.
- ^ "Rare "Heat burst" hits Atlantic area". Radio Iowa. http://www.radioiowa.com/2011/08/24/rare-heat-burst-hits-atlantic-area/.
- ^ "Temps Rocket From 80s to 102 in Minutes". KCCI. http://www.kcci.com/r/28962004/detail.html.
- ^ "Heat Burst Occurs in the Indianapolis Area". http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=ind&storyid=70360&source=0.
- ^ http://www.kwch.com/kwch-jab-did-you-feel-this-mornings-heat-burst-20110609,0,5006130.story
- ^ Heat Burst in Buenos Aires
- ^ http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/wx_events/severe/HeatBurst42609/heatburst_20090426.htm
- ^ Convective Heat Burst moves across Sioux Falls
- ^ http://www.evri.com/location/cozad-nebraska-0xfa154
- ^ NTV - KHGI/KWNB/WSWS-CA - Where your news comes first. - Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, Lincoln | Cozad Witnesses Rare Weather
- ^ http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2008/06/17/news/top_stories/doc4857af7c54b33314052160.txt
- ^ Midland Heat Burst - Damage Survey
- ^ "Special Weather Statement". National Weather Service, Topeka, Kansas. http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KEMP/2008/5/25/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
- ^ "Late Night Heat Burst in Western Minnesota on July 16–17, 2006". National Weather Service, Twin Cities. http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/heatburst060717.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ History : Weather Underground
- ^ Heat Bursts Occur Across South-Central Nebraska Early Tuesday Morning, June 20th.
- ^ http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/wxhistory/gethistory.php?month=06
- ^ http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=31351&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
- ^ Heitkamp; Holmes. "Tri State Area Heat Burst March 26, 1998". National Weather Service, Sioux Falls. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/science/heat980326/index.php. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ Cappella, Chris (1999-06-23). "Heat burst captured by weather network". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wokhtbst.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ Petricic, Dusan (2000). "It's Raining Eels: A Compendium of Weird Weather". Scientific American Presents: 54–55. issn = 1048-0943.
- ^ Freaks of the Storm, Randy Cerveny 2006, ISBN 1560258012
- ^ Isaac M. Cline, Climatological Data for July, 1909: District No. 7. Lower Mississippi Valley, p 337-338; http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-toc&issn=1520-0493&volume=37&issue=7 Monthly Weather Review July 1909
External links