Fortunately, only about 5 percent of all thunder- storms become severe, with only about 1 percent becoming tornadic. However, abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico leads to torrential rainfall from Ohio thunderstorms, which in turn leads to flood potential. Several atmospheric factors must come together for severe thunderstorms to form in Ohio. These airflows result in an unstable airmass over Ohio. A weather system to lift the low level moist air and produce thunderstorms.
Wind shear is an important ingredient.
Since the precipitation doesn't fall through the updraft and weaken it, the updraft can live longer and grow stronger. Severe thunderstorm detection has been greatly improved with the installation of Dopplar Weather Radar. This new radar helps Meteorologists see developing cores of large hail high in the storm, estimate rainfall amounts for the diagnosis of flash flood potential, and locate circulations within thunderstorms that can lead to tornado development. Unfortunately, weather radar only shows what is aloft, not what is being observed at ground level. Severe Weather Awareness Week gives all of us an opportunity to increase our understanding of Ohio severe thunderstorms, and to prepare for the threats they bring.