ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The humidity has been strongly rising this week. That means the air has been far more comfortable to our skin compared to the countless dry-feeling days of winter, but it also means storms now have more fuel and can be stronger. We have seen that already with our Yellow Alert yesterday, and more storms on the horizon this week. But how exactly does increased moisture contribute to stronger storms?
You need moisture in order to get clouds and rain, and ultimately storms. But a humid day doesn’t mean there WILL be storms. So how do we actually tap into that increased moisture? It’s a little complex. To begin, let’s review the three ingredients needed for a thunderstorm: Moisture, Instability, and Lift. Pretend we have a bubble of air that we’re working with.
Moisture: The amount of water vapor present in that bubble…