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instability line Any non-frontal line or band of convective activity in the atmosphere. This is the general term and includes the developing, mature, and dissipating stages. However, when the mature stage consists of a line of active thunderstorms, it is properly called a squall line; therefore, in practice, instability line often refers only to the less active phases. Instability lines are usually hundreds of miles long (not necessarily continuous), 10 to 50 miles wide, and are most often formed in the warm sectors of wave cyclones. Unlike true fronts, they are transitory in character, ordinarily developing to maximum intensity in less than 12 hours and then dissipating in about the same time. Maximum intensity is usually attained in late afternoon.

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