Four multiscale numerical simulations of convective events are analyzed to determine the essential characteristics of a numerical model which lead to useful simulations of convective events. Although several universities and weather forecasting centers are currently running high-resolution forecast models, the predictability of convective events, especially in the warm season, is still an issue among researchers and forecasters in the meteorological community. This study shows that explicit simulations of convection depend on the high spatial resolution of physiography (particularly topography and top soil moisture), efficient communication between grids of different scales, and initialization procedures that incorporate mesoscale storm features. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union