This monograph is a case study of an outbreak of severe local storms that produced several tornadoes and extensive large hail in Oklahoma on 26 May 1963. Several authors have combined to describe the organization, structure, and evolution of these storms from a number of points of view. The storms are analyzed on four different size scales: (1) as products of their large-scale environment, (2) as members of a mesoscale system or family unit, (3) as individual evolving cells, and (4) as tornado and hail factories, with the emphasis on the tornadoes and the hailstones themselves. Data are obtained from conventional synoptic and mesosynoptic networks, visual and photographic observations, surface weather surveys, weather radars, sferics detectors, balloon tracks, radioactivity measurements in precipitation, and hailstone thin sections. Simple models are presented describing the airflow, structure and life cycle of individual severe local storms. (Author)

The objectives of the American Meteorological Society are "the development and dissemination of knowledge of meteorology in all its phases and applications, and the advancement of its professional ideals." The organization of the Society took place in affiliation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science at Saint Louis, Missouri, December 29, 1919, and its incorporation, at Washington, D. C., January 21, 1920. The work of the Society is carried on by the Bulletin, the Journal, and Meteorological Monographs, by papers and discussions at meetings of the Society, through the offices of the Secretary and the Executive Secretary, and by correspondence. All of the Americas are represented in the membership of the Society as well as many foreign countries.

This book focuses on the dynamics of clouds and of precipitating mesoscale meteorological systems. Clouds and precipitating mesoscale systems represent some of the most important and scientifically exciting weather systems in the world. These are the systems that produce torrential rains, severe winds including downburst and tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning, and major snow storms. Forecasting such storms represents a major challenge since they are too small to be adequately resolved by conventional observing networks and numerical prediction models.

This book is a focused, comprehensive reference on recent research on severe convective storms and tornadoes. It will contain many illustrations of severe storm phenomena from mobile Doppler radars, operational Doppler radars, photographs and numerical simulations.