updrafts

An updraft is a vertical movement of air in the atmosphere, characterized by rising air motion. Updrafts form when parcels of air become warmer and less dense than their surroundings, or when air is forced to rise by terrain, weather fronts, or convective heating from the surface. They are a key component of atmospheric convection and are common in many weather systems.

In convection, surface heating creates thermals that rise, cool, and condense to form cumulus clouds. In stronger weather, updrafts within thunderstorms lift air at high speeds, carrying moisture and droplets upward, enabling rapid cloud growth and precipitation processes. Typical updraft speeds range from a few meters per second in ordinary convection to tens of meters per second in severe storms. Persistent, intense updrafts can contribute to the organization of storms, and when an updraft becomes rotating, it can organize into a mesocyclone associated with supercell storms. These rotating updrafts are linked to severe phenomena such as large hail, strong winds, and sometimes tornadoes.

Updrafts also occur in other atmospheric contexts, such as orographic lifting on mountains, sea breezes, wildfire plumes, and volcanic eruptions, where they help transport heat, moisture, and particulates. They are monitored by weather radar and used in numerical weather prediction, because their strength and location influence cloud development, rainfall, and aviation hazards. Understanding updrafts is essential for forecasting storm development and assessing wind shear and turbulence risks for aircraft.