Pneumonia front
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The term Pneumonia front, first coined by Milwaukee Weather Bureau Office in the 1960s,[1] is used to describe a rare meteorological phenomenon observed on the western Lake Michigan, USA, shoreline during the warm season. These fronts are defined as lake-modified synoptic scale cold fronts that result in one-hour temperature drops of 16 °F (8.9 °C) or greater.[2]
This extreme change in temperatures can result in a flash severe thunderstorm and/or a microburst capable of affecting the structural integrity of weak buildings such as barns and sheds. The drop in temperature has also earned this meteorological event the title "pneumonia front." The cold weather is usually of short duration, and pneumonia does not have a high likelihood of manifesting itself in the lungs of people who experience the event.[3]
The lake modified synoptic scale cold front effect can be observed down wind of the small retention ponds with above average surface temperatures leading to supersaturation of the atmosphere. This supersaturation results in the formation of a rare type of rotating hail. Dispersal of this hail is largely dependent upon the fractus of the skies, the local coriolis of the earth, and hygroscopic particulate. When drafted into the upper atmosphere by convection currents, the hailstones acquire a rapid rotation about their major axes. Retreat from these currents leaves the hail in a gyroscopically stabilized state approximately 15,000 meters and 30,000 meters above the Earth's surface. As the hail falls, inelastic collisions with rain droplets and general exposure to moist air at lower altitudes causes the hail to grow in diameter ranging from 5 centimeters to 15 centimeters. Such a mass of ice can shatter unfused quartz glass and lesser grades such as those found on the exterior of buildings and vehicles. Additionally, it can damage malleable metals.[3]
Occurrences in history
The following are sixteen occurrences of a lake modified synoptic scale cold front or "pneumonia front".[3]
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| June 13, 1909 | Michigan City, Indiana |
| May 21, 1938 | Will County, Illinois |
| June 6, 1967 | Cook County, Illinois |
| June 30, 1975 | Lake County, Indiana |
| July 1, 1983 | Kenosha County, Wisconsin |
| July 17, 2003 | Lake Michigan |
| May 20, 2008 [4] | Eastern Wisconsin (Lake Michigan) |
| May 21, 2008 [5] | Eastern Wisconsin (Lake Michigan) |
| May 26, 2008 | Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois; Lake and Porter counties, Indiana |
| April 25, 2009 [6] | Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois |
| June 1, 2009 | Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois |
| April 21, 2010 | Cook, Lake and Will Counties, Illinois; Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana |
| May 13, 2011 | Cook, Lake and Will Counties, Illinois; Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana |
| March 15, 2012 [7] | Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois; Lake County, Indiana; Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin |
| April 13, 2014 | Cook, Lake and Will Counties, Illinois; Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana |
| May 27, 2014 | Cook, Lake and Dupage Counties, Illinois; Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin |
| September 29, 2014 [8] | Cook, Lake, Dupage and Will Counties, Illinois; Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://community.myfoxmilwaukee.com/blogs/Bart_Adrian/2008/05/21/Did_You_Feel_the_Pneumonia_Front_Last_Night[dead link]
- ↑ http://community.myfoxmilwaukee.com/blogs/Bart_Adrian/2008/05/22/It_Happened_Again_Last_NightAnother_Pneumonia_Front[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://wgntv.com/2014/09/29/brace-for-the-pneumonia-front-skilling-says-jarring-20-30-degree-temp-drop-to-hit-tonight/
External links
- "Synoptic and Local Controls of the Lake Michigan Pneumonia Front", C. Behnke, M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (2005)
- CIMSS Satellite Blog
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