ITCZ thunderstorm machine on WeatherRadar

The ITCZ is visible worldwide on the WeatherRadar, but do you know what it is and how it impacts our global weather patterns?

It's the same story day after day in the tropics. After a sunny start, cumulus clouds shoot upwards, and it's all thanks to the ITCZ.

The ITCZ stands for the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and is a region near the equator where the trade winds from the north and south meet.

It is typically located around the equator, though can shift north or south at times depending on the time of year. Currently, for example, it is shifting northwards, causing unprecedented rainfall in the Sahara.

It is a region where warm, moist air rises, producing lots of clouds, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall. On the WeatherRadar currently, this zone can be recognised by the constant thunderstorms.