supercell
Tornado-spawning storm
A supercell is a severe thunderstorm characterized by a deep, persistently rotating updraft called a mesocyclone.
Supercells are the most dangerous type of thunderstorm, capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
They can persist for hours and travel hundreds of miles: The supercell spawned multiple tornadoes across the county.
Upward air movement
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- wall cloudRotating lowered cloud base
- anvil cloudFlat-topped storm formation
- vaultSecure storage chamber
Rotating fluid column
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- circulationMovement through a system
tornadic · wind shear · corkscrew · cyclonic
Rotating destructive windstorm
- funnel cloudRotating condensation pendant
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- waterspoutMarine vortex phenomenon
- landspoutNon-supercell weak tornado
One who pursues tornadoes
- storm spotterTrained severe weather reporter
- target areaDesignated impact location
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- interceptSeize en route
Buoyancy energy measure
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- wind shearRapid atmospheric velocity shift
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
- drylineSharp humidity boundary aloft
Rapid overflow from storms
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- violentInvolving physical force
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
- downburstSudden descending windstorm
microburst · debris · property damage · crop damage · casualties
Imminent vortex notification
- severe thunderstorm warningHazardous electrical storm notification
- watchPortable timekeeping device
- sirenWailing alert device
- shelterProtected place or structure
basement · safe room · emergency · evacuation · NOAA · weather radio · alert
updraft
Upward air movement
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- wall cloudRotating lowered cloud base
- anvil cloudFlat-topped storm formation
vault · mammatus · rain curtain · beaver tail · shelf cloud
vortex
Rotating fluid column
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- spinRapid rotation around axis
circulation · tornadic · wind shear · corkscrew · cyclonic
twister
Rotating destructive windstorm
- funnel cloudRotating condensation pendant
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- waterspoutMarine vortex phenomenon
landspout · tornadic · tornado alley · multi-vortex · debris cloud
storm chaser
One who pursues tornadoes
- storm spotterTrained severe weather reporter
- target areaDesignated impact location
- positioningArranging in specific locations
intercept · escape route · tour group · live stream · dashcam
CAPE
Buoyancy energy measure
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- wind shearRapid atmospheric velocity shift
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
dryline · cap · outflow boundary · triple point · sounding
flash flooding
Rapid overflow from storms
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- violentInvolving physical force
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
downburst · microburst · debris · property damage · crop damage · casualties
tornado warning
Imminent vortex notification
- severe thunderstorm warningHazardous electrical storm notification
- watchPortable timekeeping device
- sirenWailing alert device
shelter · basement · safe room · emergency · evacuation · NOAA · weather radio · alert
discrete
Individually separate, unconnected
- phenomenanorthern lights, eclipse, earthquake, solar eclipse, volcanic eruption
- weatherweather, rain, sun, snow, wind
- weather phenomenatornado, wind, hurricane, gust, blizzard
- Thunderstormslightning, thunder, thunderstorm, lightning strike, thunderclap
- Tornadoestornado, twister, funnel cloud, funnel, vortex
- "super" wordssuperhero, superstar, superman, superwoman, superpower
supercellclear skies
Absence of cloud cover
fair weather · blue sky · calm · doldrums · anticyclone