thunderstorm info

[jake]

Do all thunderstorms develop the anvil in nz?and why is it when we do get a thunderstorm they arnt as impresive as the us?

[windy]

generaly you need the towering cumulus to get to the anvil stage before lightning to occur, but lightning will start to occur as soon as the towering cumulus has reached enough vertical height to give enough charge separation

re the USA...its a large continent, which heats up and stays hot well into the evening.... and the midwest is basicly flat....and there is a big moisture feed from the gulf of mexico...and then there is the dry air that comes from the rockies (i.e rain shadow) and then the cool and dry air that moves down from canada....so 3 different airmasses.....all great ingredients to setup amazing thunderstorm lines that last like an energizer battery!