squall line

noun

, Meteorology.

1. a line or extended narrow region within which squalls or thunderstorms occur, often several hundred miles long.

squall line

noun

1. a narrow zone along a cold front along which squalls occur See also line squall

squall line

1. A line of sudden, sometimes violent thunderstorms that develop on the leading edge of a cold front. Squall lines can form up to 80 to 240 km (50 to 149 mi) in front of an advancing cold front and can be more than 160 km (99 mi) long. The thunderstorms of a squall line can produce severe weather conditions, such as hail and rain accompanied by winds of over 96 km (60 mi) per hour; they are also associated with tornadoes, especially in spring and early summer.

Example Sentences

One simulated radar scenario is shown below, depicting a squall line of intense thunderstorms arriving during the late afternoon and evening.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• cold snap
• cold spell
• cold wave