Squalls are sudden gusts of wind that can be dangerous for sailors and aviators. They are caused by various weather situations and are common around bodies of water. Squall lines are related and can be precursors to larger storms. After a squall, rainbows and other phenomena may be visible.
A squall is a rapid increase in wind speed over a short period of time that may only last for a brief flash of a minute or so before dissipating. Storms can create dangerous weather conditions and are of particular concern to sailors and aviators, who can be in danger if they encounter one without proper preparation. For the etymologically inclined, this word appears to derive from an Old Norse term meaning “to shriek,” a meaning people may see referred to in another common use of this word, to describe a child’s sudden loud cries. .
The causes of these sudden gusts of wind can vary, depending on the region and weather situation, and tend to be especially common around bodies of water, because air moving over water can rapidly change its behavior. Typically, one appears along with a burst of rain, snow, or hail. In lake effect storms, seen when air moves over a lake and dumps snow or rain on the other side, wind occurs when warm and cold air meet, leading to increased humidity over the lake and sudden rainfall on the other side.
The wind speed can increase significantly in a storm and this can be very dangerous. For sailors, the wind can damage sails or even capsize a boat if it’s strong enough. It can also cause large waves to develop, submerging a jet ski and putting it at risk of sinking. This type of weather is a common and well-known hazard on many inland water bodies, such as the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada. High winds can also be dangerous to aircraft, leading to turbulence and potentially causing pilots to lose control of their aircraft.
A squall line, a related meteorological term, is a line of small but very powerful thunderstorms. As they move across the landscape, they will release gusts of high winds and damp weather. Such storm systems are sometimes precursors to a larger storm, including weather systems such as hurricanes. They have distinctively shaped clouds, making it easy to identify people in the distance. Sailors spotting a series of storms can seek shelter to protect their boats before the severe weather strikes.
After the sudden bad weather from the bad weather, the sun may come out. It is not uncommon to see rainbows after such storms and people may notice phenomena such as half the structure drenched in rain while the other half remains dry and sunny. These small, compact weather systems can pack a punch and usually disappear very quickly.
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