It is powerful, and when the darks of the sky take position and the winds are carrying on, there is nothing on earth, which can resist the mighty phenomenon of the heavy storm shadow. It is such an intense act of meteorology that cannot be regarded merely as a natural disaster because it reminds us of the forces of nature that are beyond our control. These storms have the ability to cause havoc in parts of the world and especially in places such as the United States and the UAE causing damages that cannot be recovered after many years. What then is a heavy storm shadow and how are these heavier storms different to the conventional storms we are accustomed to hearing about? In this particular blog we will look at the complexities of heavy storm shadows, why they happen, the impact that they have and their relevance to our comprehension of overall severe weather.
What Is Heavy Storm Shadow?
Heavy storm shadow is a very intense form of weather occurrence but rarely witnessed whereby there is extreme weather conditions, which a lot of times results in severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and violent winds. This term does not only indicate the storm itself but the prolonged consequences of its occurrence to the environment and the communities. Contrary to expectation in normal storms which can take a few hours, heavy storm shadows could keep increasing and cover a region in a span of days or even weeks and leave a long trail of aftermaths.
Explaining How a Storm Shadow Works
So that you can better comprehend the phenomenon, we should resort to the analysis of mechanics behind a heavy storm shadow. What usually causes these storms is a mixture of atmospheric instability, atmospheric moisture and several temperature differentials. When hot air rises to encounter a colder air, thunderstorms form. This may even cause the origination of storm shadows, under some situations, these are the zones that are characterized by the stronger impact of the storm.
It is also common to have heavy rains or hails which are destructive when they are accompanied by strong winds. The shadow does not actually refer to a physical shadow but it is referred to as such to cover the surroundings that felt the storm and the extent of its power. The worst of such can be the cases when it happens in the most populated areas causing the immediate destruction and other after-effects, such as flooding, power shutdowns, and infrastructure collapses.
The Science of the Shadow; The Weather underneath it All:
According to the opinion of meteorologists, the heavy storm shadows are commonly associated with a fine balance that exists between the wind patterns, moisture levels, and variance of temperature. A combination of those creates a scenario with the perfect conditions to have a significant storm event. Also known as heavy storm shadows, according to Dr. Samuel Greenfield, a highly recognized meteorologist, heavy storm shadows are caused by atmospheric conditions that rise beyond normal thunderstorm level events into a more meaningful and large area weather dislocation. Here is where the storm starts to cast an imaginary shadow by contributing its impact to more geographical regions.
In some places such as in the United States especially around the Midwest and the Gulf Coast, heavy storm shadows during some seasons is not new and credit is given to the atmospheric conditions offered in the area. This contact between warm and moist air that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and cooler dry air of the north may result in an ideal environment that leads to such storms. In the same way in the UAE, heat and subsequent moisture in oceans around can generate storms of the same level of intensity.
The Environmental and Community Impacts The Impact on the Environment The impact on the environment has been very minimal compared to the benefits accrued to it. This is because its environmental effect has actually been minor though it has not been totally favorable to the environment. The communities have also been impacted since most of the beneficiaries are the communities. When the effect of the horse on the environment is looked at, it has not been immensely positive but relatively small. This is because there is no truth in the claim that it has even destroyed the environment totally.
Shadows of heavy storms are able to create a swath of devastation. The environmental cost is great in the way that intense rains will cause flooding, erosion of the soil, destruction of agricultural land. The resultant effects are flash floods, especially in urban centers where drainages might be inadequate to deal with the sudden onset of water. Also, the high intensity winds, including hail that those storms are characterized by, may loosen trees, destroy harvests and destroy other infrastructure.
The personal cost is even more disturbing. The consequences of a heavy storm shadow can be translated to the communities that have to deal with the lack of power, transportation backouts, and destruction of property at a mass scale. During recovery, months – even years – may be needed to restore affected areas at least in some parts of the world where reconstruction resources are scarce. Health risks also grow, due to possibility of spreading any diseases such as cholera or malaria caused by stagnant water left behind by flooding.
Heavy Storm Shadows Case Studies: Case Studies Examples
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are frequent throughout the United States, especially within a specific region, called Tornado Alley. This area, which encompasses the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, has often had heavy clouds of storm shadows in spring and during the summer months. The violent hurricanes that form here may result in the formation of tornadoes that run at a speed of more than 300mph which destroys everything at a huge scale.
Among the most memorable events was the outbreak of a huge tornado which was classified as EF5 that hit the city of Joplin, Missouri in May of 2011. The storm left a path of devastation that lasted miles behind it because it had a strong storm shadow. The storm claimed more than 150 lives and resulted in property losses to the tune of more than 2 billion dollars. It is a perfect illustration of how a heavy storm shadow can turn a normal storm into a disastrous one that may have prolonged consequences on nature and human lives.
The UAE: A Place that is not Ready to Face Extreme Weather
Even though the UAE is regarded to be hotter than hot and has a dry atmosphere, heavy storm shadows are becoming a matter of concern. The infrastructure system in the nation is meant to meet the high intensity of the heat and occasional rains, however as the climate change becomes prevalent, there has been an increase in the emergence of storms of high magnitude. The rainstorms and flooding in the Eastern Region in 2019 were one of the most remembered events. This was followed by the rainstorms, which resulted in flash flooding that overwhelmed the country drainage systems leading to streets being flooded and homes also being damaged and resulting in major disruption in the daily lives of the residents.
The fact that this incident occurred in one of the regions within the Middle East, such as UAE, is an indication that these geographical regions are more susceptible to the impacts of saturated storm shadows. Due to the increase of global temperatures, these nations can face the most intensive storms ever.
Prevention: How to Be Ready to a Heavy Storm Shadow?
Although there is nothing communities or governments could do to prevent the formation of a heavy storm shadow, there are things that can be done to help reduce their intensity. In the first place, it is essential to enhance the early warning systems. With adequate technology, meteorologists will be able to forecast the approach of the severe weather hence the communities that are in its way have time to organize themselves. Besides, it is possible to minimise destruction amid storms by constructing infrastructure that resists harsh weather conditions. As an example, urban centers can make investments in stronger drainage systems to receive excess water during rains.
Another facet is public knowledge. By knowing the dangers of a severe shadow of the storm, communities can take measures to ensure they remain safe, either by making their houses storm-proof, or staying off potentially flooded paths when a devastating storm comes.
Finale: Thunderstorm Shadows to come
With the ongoing climatic change influencing weather pattern across the globe, more storm shadows of a vast nature are likely to occur. Areas currently less inclined towards such weather occurrences such as some parts of the Middle East might suffer more in the days to come. The most important thing to do to make it through these storms is preparation and knowledge. The impact of these disastrous events can be reduced by adequate preparation at community levels through the improvement of the meteorological technology, improved infrastructure, and insightfulness.
Ultimately, though heavy storm shadow might represent an uncontrollable force, the extent of destruction that it brings is dependent upon how people react to them. There is a possibility that we might still witness more of such extreme weather conditions but it does not mean that we cannot be prepared to tackle them as planned.
