Flanking line (meteorology)

The flanking line is generated by the downburst that builds a cold air wedge beneath the warmer airmass in front of the thunderstorm.

A widespread misconception in the world of soaring is that the updrafts associated with an incoming thunderstorm are almost always very strong and turbulent,[5] which is most of the time incorrect.

[6] The refutation of this myth is poetically expressed by Dominique Musto who says the following: Pourtant malgré un ciel sombre et l'absence de soleil, les ascendances sont douces et généralisées dans tout le secteur.

[7] (Translation: However, notwithstanding a dark sky and lack of sunlight, the updrafts are smooth and extended in the entire area.

If the pilot ignores these harbingers, he may hit a tornado generated under a wall cloud and disintegrate his fragile skiff.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned, Dennis Pagen experimented the exploitation of a flanking line (that he calls a bench) with a hang glider along a severe thunderstorm.