The formation and evolution of African easterly waves (AEWs) is examined in an intermediate complexity model. The numerical framework is a modified version of the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model. Idealized numerical simulations are performed to investigate the generation of symoptic scale waves in idealized versions of observed background state over North Africa. Particular emphasis is placed on the interaction of mesoscale convection with the easterly jet, wave growth and storm track development.