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SKEW-T: A LOOK AT STORM UVV

METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY

1. What is STORM UVV?

Storm UVV (Upward Vertical Velocity) is the maximum updraft speed that can occur in a thunderstorm given certain instability. Units are in meters per second.

2. How is STORM UVV determined?

Formula is CAPE times 2 and then take the square root of that number.

The sounding at the bottom has a CAPE of 4,385 J/kg. 4,385 * 2 = 8,770. Square root of 8,770 is = 93.6 m/s updraft.

3. Operational significance of STORM UVV:

STORM UVV (m/s)
40 or less Regular updraft
41 to 60 Strong updraft
61 to 80 Very strong updraft
81 or greater Extreme updraft


The Storm UVV in reality will be lower depending on how much ice and water is within the updraft. Wind shear enables updraft to sustain itself longer since downdraft will not cut-off updraft.

Hail: Hail potential increases as updraft strength increases. Large hail requires very strong to extreme updraft strengths and wind shear.