Supercell

weather · storms · rotation

Spinning core inside. A supercell has a special mesocyclone, which is a deep, rotating column of air inside the storm that makes it spin like a top. This rotation is what makes it so different from normal thunderstorms.

Storms that last long. Most supercells spin and rage for 2 to 4 hours, but some super-charged ones can keep going for 7 hours or more. That's way longer than regular thunderstorms, which usually come and go quickly.

Weather ruler. A single supercell can be the only major storm for up to 32 kilometers (20 miles) around it, controlling all the weather in that area. It's like one powerful storm takes over the whole neighborhood.

Rare but fierce. Supercells are the least common type of thunderstorm out of the four main kinds, but they have the biggest power to cause severe damage. When one shows up, it usually means serious trouble is coming.

Isolated loners. Unlike other thunderstorms that like to cluster together in groups, supercells tend to stand alone and isolated from other storms. This makes them easier to track but harder to escape from.