What is a bow echo?
A bow echo is a term meteorologists use to describe a line of thunderstorms which has a distinct convex shape, like a backward “C”, pointing into the direction of movement. The origin of how the bow echo forms is complex but basically pressure differences within the core of the storm and the environment cause a descending jet of high speed wind to reach into the lower portion of the storm. Since this air is descending and accelerating it acts as a wedge and rapidly lifts air on the leading edge of the line, near the center, to form new thunderstorms while the portion of the line to the north and south lags behind. As this air descends it also causes drying and evaporation of the precipitation resulting in a decrease in radar reflectivity, or notch, just behind the bowing portion of the line. The strongest winds are perpendicular to the bowing segment and are generally comprised of straight line winds oriented in the direction of the bow echo movement. To the north and south at the end
