Severe Thunderstorm and Heavy Rainfall Potential Continues

A low pressure center tracking across the Great Lakes and its associated cold front extending across the Southern Plains will focus occasional showers and thunderstorms through tonight. A few of these thunderstorms may become severe alongside heavy rainfall that may cause flash flooding; Portions of the Southern Plains would be the greatest threat for these hazards through tonight. Read More >

Cyclic Supercell: A thunderstorm that undergoes cycles of intensification and weakening (pulses) while maintaining its individuality. Cyclic supercells are capable of producing multiple tornadoes (i.e., a tornado family) and/or several bursts of severe weather. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR-145: A Comprehensive Glossary of Weather Terms For Storm Spotters.

Supercell: An often dangerous storm that consists primarily of a single, quasi-steady rotating updraft, which persists for a period of time. The supercell typically has a very organized internal structure that enables it to propagate continuously. It may exist for several hours and usually forms in an environment with strong vertical wind shear. Severe weather often accompanies supercells, which are capable of producing high winds, large hail, and strong, long-lived tornadoes. American Meteorological Society: Glossary of Meteorology

Another more recent example of a cyclic supercell storm was back on April 28th, 2002. One supercell storm produced SEVEN tornadoes across our county warning area. The first tornado occurred in Bollinger County, MO with subsequent tornadoes occurring further east in far southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

2002 outbreak

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