Tag Archives: Thunderstorms

Supercell Panoramas from the United States

June 11th, 2013 | Space

Supercell Panoromas - Texas

Texas

Supercell  Panormas - Montana

Montana

Panoromas - South Dakota

South Dakota

Panoramas - Elk City Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Panoromas - Oklahoma

Oklahoma

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