A dry thunderstorm is a thunderstorm that produces thunder and lightning, but its precipitation evaporates before reaching the ground.

Contents 1 Where dry thunderstorms occur 2 Hazards 2.1 Dust storms 2.2 Fires 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Where dry thunderstorms occur

Dry thunderstorms generally occur in deserts, Western US, or places where atmospheric water vapor is low. Because dry air tends to absorb water in the form of vapor, it is absorbed before reaching the ground.

[edit] Hazards

[edit] Dust storms

In deserts, there is generally no precipitation reaching the ground to soak the sand. The sand is blown into the air by the wind the storm produces, and a dust storm is created.

[edit] Fires

In areas where some trees are present, the lightning will cause the trees to catch fire and there is no rain to stop the fire. Storm winds fan the fire, causing it to spread more quickly.

[edit] See also

• Dry lightning
• Virga

[edit] References

• Dry lightning and dry thunderstorms cause the majority of wildfires in the Western US - including California fires.
• Dust Storms Across the Southwest During the late autumn

• Ferguson, Sue A., Steven J. McKay, Miriam L. Rorig & Paul Werth. May 2007. "Model-Generated Predictions of Dry Thunderstorm Potential".Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. Volume 46, p 605-614.

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