Why do severe thunderstorms tend to develop in the spring?
First of all, severe thunderstorms are those that produce 3/4″ hail or larger, winds 58 mph or greater or tornadoes. Severe thunderstorms require warm, moist air at the Earth’s surface as well as favorable atmospheric conditions to increase instability and shear in storms as they develop. While such storms are possible year-round, the required ingredients tend to come together at different times of year for different geographic regions. In the Southeast, severe thunderstorm activity tends to spike in the early spring, with storm season typically peaking in late spring for the southern Plains and in summer in the northern Plains. Learn more about severe thunderstorms on this USA TODAY resource page.
