The "Ring Of Fire"

Although it sounds pretty intriguing, the "Ring of Fire" is simply a rim of clouds, showers, and thunderstorms around a sprawling area of hot summertime high pressure. On this map, the ring itself appears near the Atlanta, Georgia area, moves up to just north and west of St. Louis, and runs through Central Ohio and Southern Pennsylvania all around an area of high pressure giving the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic a Summertime heat wave. The reason for the "ring" is that the massive area of sinking, heating air (the high pressure where the heat wave is located) is very stable, meaning passing disturbances can't intrude. Therefore, any storms must ride around the edges of the high pressure making for the appearance of the "Ring Of Fire."

Jonathan Myers