30/03/2026
ig stormchasers Thunderstorm at sunset in South Dakota
Thunderstorms are usually driven by the heating of the Earth's surface during the day, which creates rising warm air and atmospheric instability. For this reason, they often reach their first peak in the late afternoon or early evening, when the ground has absorbed the maximum amount of solar energy. After sunset, this direct energy source disappears, and in many cases storms weaken because the lower atmosphere becomes more stable.
However, under certain conditions, thunderstorms can intensify again after sunset, and this is mainly due to changes in the structure of the atmosphere rather than surface heating. As the ground cools, a stable layer of air forms near the surface. This layer reduces friction and allows winds slightly above the ground to accelerate, creating what meteorologists call a low-level jet. This fast-moving air transports warm, moist air into the storm system, effectively supplying it with fresh energy and moisture.
At the same time, the stable layer near the ground can act like a lid, preventing energy from dispersing. Instead of weakening, the storm's updrafts become more focused and efficient above this layer, a process known as elevated convection. This can make existing storm systems more organized and longer-lasting, sometimes allowing them to grow stronger during the night.
+
Shot by
