Print The geometry of a severe weather outbreak refers to the spatial arrangement, within the larger mesoscale environment, of the pivotal factors that affect convective development. These factors include the orientation of initiating boundaries, wind shear vectors, and the mean wind, as well as the spatial distribution of thermodynamic variables such as CAPE. For example, consider that the angle between the initiating boundary of deep convection and the mean wind through about 70% of the convective cloud layer plays an integral role in determining storm mode and predominant severe weather threat. This factor, therefore, is part of the "geometry" component of a severe weather outbreak.