The wake low in a midlatitude mesoscale convective system having complex convective organization

Abstract

Although the organization of the storm was complex, the surface pressure field resembled those associated with simpler, quasi-linear squall systems containing trailing stratiform regions: a mesohigh existed near the convective line and a wake low was observed to the rear of the stratiform region. A strong system-relative descending rear inflow jet was observed in the northern part of the storm near the wake low. These findings indicate that the trailing stratiform precipitation regions of mesoscale convectve systems can be dynamically significant phenomena, generating rapidly descending inflow jets at their back edges and, consequently, producing pronounced lower-tropospheric warming, intense surface pressure gradients and strong low-level winds. -from Authors