Outflow Boundary

An outflow boundary is a wind shift that often, but not always precedes a thunderstorm passage. Outflow boundaries are the result of cooler more stable air being forward downward by the rain shaft of a thunderstorm. Once this air hits the surface it is forced outward away from the storm itself. Outflow boundaries can often become the catalyst for more thunderstorms to form as it provides a lifting mechanism. They can also be very detrimental to the original storm as they stabilize the atmosphere and decrease the amount of instability.

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