In meteorology, a ring of fire pattern is a type of an atmospheric setup where thunderstorms form along the edges of a strong high-pressure ridge in the upper layer of the atmosphere. These storms can produce severe thunderstorms and flooding around the edges of the ridge. It is a similar phenomenon to the heat dome, and the two typically coincide as functions of strong areas of high atmospheric pressure, with both being most common during the warm season.[1]
In the United States, ring of fire patterns are also commonly contributing factors to warm-season derechos, as extreme atmospheric instability builds near the edges of the ridge.[2] [3]