Line echo wave pattern: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Weather radar formation}}

[[File:Line echo wave pattern.gif|thumb|right|Radar schematic of a LEWP. This shape is a single wave along the pattern, for real LEWPs this shape is [[tessellate]]d repeatedly in a linear fashion]]

A '''line echo wave pattern''' ('''LEWP''') is a [[weather radar]] formation in which a single line of thunderstorms presenting multiple [[bow echo]]es forms south (or equatorward) of a [[Mesoscale meteorology|mesoscale]] [[low-pressure area]] with a rotating "head".<ref>{{cite book |last editor= Glickman |first =, Todd S. (ed.) |authoreditor-link=Todd Glickman |title = Glossary of Meteorology |publisher = American Meteorological Society |edition = 2nd |year = 2000 |url = http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Line_echo_wave_pattern |isbn = 978-1-878220-34-9 }}</ref> LEWP often are associated with a multiple-bow serial [[derecho]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.weather.gov/iwx/20110419_lewp Severe Storms of April 19th-20th | title=Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes of April 19-20, 2011 | publisher=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Northern Indiana | date=April 24, 2011 | access-date=February 9, 2020 |author1=Obergfell |author2=Lashley |author3=Chamberlain }}</ref> and often produce tornadoes, some of which can be strong.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/stormSummary/TorWx_3_18-23_2011/torwx_3_18-23.php | title=Waterspouts and Tornadoes March 2011 | publisher=National Weather Service Forecast Office (part of NOAA) | date=2011 | access-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> The existence of a LEWP on radar means that a serial [[derecho]] has developed or is likely to develop soon, much as a [[hook echo]] indicates the same for a [[tornado]].

== Formation ==

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[[File:Illinois-LEWP.jpg|thumb|left|A LEWP in Illinois/Indiana and Arkansas, associated with a [[Tornado outbreak sequence of April 19–24, 2011|very large derecho]]]]

A LEWP is an extension of the concept of the bow echo, which usually indicates a powerful convective windstorm. Areas hit by the apices of bows often see the worst weather, with the highest winds and very heavy rain. However, if the sides of the bows reach enough of an orientation parallel to the derecho's movement, [[storm train|a very long-duration]] heavy rain event can result, leading to [[flash flood]]ing. A serial derecho can be in the form of a LEWP or a single, very large [[bow echo]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/?n=spotterglossary-figure4 | title=Line Echo Wave Pattern (LEWP) | publisher=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | work=Norman, OK: Figure 4, LEWP | date=December 2, 2009 | access-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> In theory, a LEWPs formation is dependent on varying environmental conditions in different regions of the respective LEWP. In many LEWPs, outflow induced winds behind the leading edge tend to influence this edge, appearing as a bulge in reflectivity on radar. Another conditional scenario is varying amounts of shear parallel and along the line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Line_echo_wave_pattern |title=Line echo wave pattern - Glossary of Meteorology |publisher=Glossary.ametsoc.org |date=2012-01-26 |accessdate=2022-08-12}}</ref>

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