Ring of Fire (Meteorology)

In meteorology, a ring of fire is an atmospheric setup in which thunderstorms form along the edge of a strong high-pressure ridge in the upper atmosphere. Storms developing along the rim of the ridge can bring severe weather, including intense thunderstorms and flooding around its edges, and the pattern typically occurs in warmer months alongside conditions similar to a heat dome. In the United States it plays a major role in warm-season derecho events, since extreme atmospheric instability builds along the boundary of the ridge and channels severe storm development along that edge rather than spreading it across a wider area.