a bow-shaped radar reflectivity pattern that is often accompanied by downbursts at the apex of the bulge
A radar echo that is linear but bent outward in a bow shape. Damaging straight-line winds often occur near the "crest" or center of a bow echo. Areas of circulation also can develop at either end of a bow echo, which sometimes can lead to tornado formation - especially in the left (usually northern) end, where the circulation shows cyclonic rotation.
A rapidly moving crescent shaped echo on a radar which is convex in the direction of motion. It is associated with strong, straight-line winds. Areas of circulation also can develop at either end of a bow echo, which sometimes can lead to tornado formation - especially in the left (usually northern) end, where the circulation exhibits cyclonic rotation. See also Line Echo Wave Pattern (LEWP).
An accelerated portion of a squall line of thunderstorms, taking on bow configuration, created by strong downburst winds.
On radar, a line of thunderstorms that bulges outward into a bow shape. Damaging thunderstorm winds often occur near the center of the bow echo.
a radar echo which is linear but bent outward in the shape of a bow (i.e., used by an archer). Damaging straight-line winds often occur near the "crest" or center of a bow echo. The left (usually northern) end of the bow is a preferred location for the formation of tornadoes.
radar echo signature often associated with severe thunderstorms, especially those that produce wind damage. It is bent outward in a "bow" shape.
A line or line segment of storms that forms a curved segment similar to that of an archer's bow. Usually indicative of strong to severe surface winds.
A bow-shaped line of convective cells that is often associated with swaths of damaging straight-line winds and small tornadoes. Key structural features include an intense rear-inflow jet impinging on the core of the bow, with book-end or line-end vortices on both sides of the rear-inflow jet, behind the ends of the bowed convective segment. Bow echoes have been observed with scales between 20 and 200 km, and often have lifetimes between 3 and 6 h. At early stages in their evolution, both cyclonic and anticyclonic book-end vortices tend to be of similar strength, but later in the evolution, the northern cyclonic vortex often dominates, giving the convective system a comma-shaped appearance.
A bow echo is a term used to describe a squall line of thunderstorms that has a characteristic shape of an archer's bow. They can produce severe straight-line winds with some embedded tornados. Especially strong bow echos that can cause devastating damage all along the width of the storm are often called derechos.