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Anyone who lives in the Midwestern region of the United States knows that thunderstorms can be an awe-inspiring (and dangerous) event. A supercell is a particular kind of thunderstorm which is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone, a deep, rotating updraft.
Thunderstorms can be broken up into 4 different categories — supercell, squall line, multi-cell, and single-cell — and supercells are the least common of the bunch. However, they are also the most severe.
So how do Supercell Thunderstorms form?
The supercell thunderstorms rotate by tilting along the horizontal vortex, an action powered by wind shear. In addition, strong updrafts lift the tilting air to cause an additional rotation around the vertical axis, thus forming the internal mesocyclone.
Seen above are some epic photographs capturing the mesocyclone formation period. Hopefully, you get a sense of the unpredictable power of nature.
-RSB