[--MAIN HOME--] [--ALL HABYHINTS--] INVERTED-V SOUNDING Named Inverted-V since the dewpoint depression decreases significantly with height Most common in interior Western U.S. (especially interior Southwest U.S.) Sounding has dry air (low RH) in lower troposphere with nearly saturated air (high RH) in middle troposphere Convection tends to be high based since Convective Condensation Level is at a high elevation Most common severe weather: Strong winds > 58 mph; this is due to negative buoyancy of evaporationally cooled air aloft that causes it to accelerate toward the surface Gust fronts from inverted-V storms can have a large temperature gradient from one side to the other due to evaporative cooling Hail and tornadoes are not common due to the dry boundary layer, high cloud base and unorganized wind shear EXAMPLE: