Rear-inflow jets and squall lines
Notes:
This slide reviews some of the basic features associated with squall lines featuring damaging winds. In particular, the rear inflow jet is a very important feature associated with these systems. Strong rear-inflow jets are favored when a strong buoyancy gradient is present between a moist, very buoyant updraft and a strong cold pool. This implies that factors that favor strong rear-inflow jets include large CAPE values downstream from the convective system, and dry air getting ingested into the rear of the convective system, resulting in the strong cold pool. Strong environmental shear is needed to maintain a deep, strong updraft at the leading edge of the cold pool. So, in summary, factors that would favor squall lines with damaging winds include large CAPE values downstream of the line, dry air in back of the line, and strong wind shear.
Slide 11