Lightning signatures in convective storms on the High Plains

An understanding of the association between storm intensity and lightning activity may help forecasters better distinguish between severe and non-severe storms. Seven storms were analyzed in this study in attempt to better understand lightning behavior relative to storm severity. Six of the cases analyzed produced severe weather. The main distinguishing factor between non-severe and severe storms was a flash rate increase and a radiation spread in the 4 to 10 km regions. Each of the cases produced +CG lightning but more importantly experienced a polarity reversal. In cases where either a tornado warning was issued or an actual tornado was reported, the polarity reversal occurred before all tornadic events. The polarity reversal itself was associated with a decrease in lightning in the mid-levels of the temporal height distributions. Peak currents also increased in strength after the reversal. The study shows that total lightning behavior, although it may vary from region to region, differs in severe and non-severe stages of thunderstorms