rainbands
Spiral storm sections
Rainbands are elongated regions of precipitation within a larger storm system, appearing as distinct bands on weather radar.
They spiral around hurricanes and tropical cyclones, producing heavy rain and sometimes tornadoes as they move inland.
Meteorologists track rainbands to predict where a storm's worst weather will hit: The outer rainbands are already affecting the coast.
Violent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
thunderstorm · mesoscale · convection · eyewall · landfall · intensification · weakening · circulation
Curve winding around center
- convectiveHeat transfer through movement
- stratiformForming horizontal sheets
- eyewallHurricane's central windband
- feederSource of input
outer · inner · concentric · asymmetric · organized · banding · arc · curved
Intense precipitation event
- showersLight, passing rainfalls
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- torrentialFlowing in violent streams
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
accumulation · intensity · duration · moisture · droplets · heavy · intermittent · sustained
Radio-wave object detection
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
- imageryVivid descriptive language
- dopplerFrequency change from motion
- reflectivityLight-bouncing capacity
echo · tracking · forecast · monitoring · meteorologist · NOAA · detection · visualization
hurricane
Violent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
squall · thunderstorm · mesoscale · convection · eyewall · landfall · intensification · weakening · circulation · vortex
spiral
Curve winding around center
- convectiveHeat transfer through movement
- stratiformForming horizontal sheets
- eyewallHurricane's central windband
feeder · outer · inner · concentric · asymmetric · organized · banding · arc · curved · rotating
downpour
Intense precipitation event
- showersLight, passing rainfalls
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- torrentialFlowing in violent streams
flooding · accumulation · intensity · duration · moisture · droplets · heavy · intermittent · sustained · drenching
radar
Radio-wave object detection
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
- imageryVivid descriptive language
- dopplerFrequency change from motion
reflectivity · echo · tracking · forecast · monitoring · meteorologist · NOAA · detection · visualization · analysis
rainbandsclear skies
Absence of cloud cover
dry air · fair weather · high pressure · subsidence · blue sky