World_Feb_2017_06hr
General --February is the last month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. --By tracking the latest hours in white, the overhead sun can be seen moving east to west on a daily basis. --Thunderstorms travel west to east over the middle and higher latitudes in both hemispheres, and are stationary or move more slowly from east to west in the tropics. ~Ron Holle
Mar 1, 2017 Webmaster Archive
Northern Hemisphere --Nearly all February lightning over the United States is in well-organized lines and clusters. -- Alaska, Canada, China, Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and Russia have minimal lightning. --Several systems move west to east over the Mediterranean Sea through the period of the loop. --Lightning is present on many days over and near Japan, especially on its west coast. ~Ron Holle
Mar 3, 2017 9:16:41 PM Dave Fincher
Tropics --The east-west equatorial trough, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, is continuous over the western Atlantic, somewhat apparent over the eastern North Pacific, and diffuse over the last half of the month over the Indian Ocean. --The major islands and land areas of tropical Southeast Asia have thunderstorms nearly every afternoon in sea breezes and along mountain slopes. Motion is from west to east early in the month, then from east to west. --Central America has minimal lightning through the month. ~Ron Holle
Mar 3, 2017 9:16:51 PM Dave Fincher
Southern Hemisphere --Lightning is very frequent over Australia, Madagascar, and South America. --Lightning over Africa is frequent south of the Equator but has minimal organization for more than a few hours. --Long lines of thunderstorms often extend eastward over the adjacent oceans from the southeast coasts of Africa, Australia, and South America. --The Andes provide a sharp western boundary in a NNW-SSE line and no lightning occurs over the cold water offshore of the Andes. ~Ron Holle
Mar 3, 2017 9:17:01 PM Dave Fincher
Specific --07 February: Severe weather in southern Louisiana with frequent flashes moves west to east; large complex moves offshore on 8th. --12 to 16 February: Frequent lightning forms over the eastern shore of the Red Sea and moves northeast across Saudi Arabia. --18 to 19 February: Extremely long line of lightning offshore from South Africa to the southeast. --19 to 21 February: Lightning activity is concentrated against the southern boundary of the Himalayas. --11 to 13 February: Frequent lightning in the vicinity of Hawaii. --15 to 18 February: Long line of thunderstorms moves offshore from the east coast of United States to the mid-Atlantic Ocean. ~Ron Holle
Mar 3, 2017 9:17:12 PM Dave Fincher