There are different breeds of thunderstorms each with their own characteristics
There are single-celled storms often weak and short-lived
Multi-celled storms sporadic and unorganized and
and squalls
organizing into dramatic lines they can stretch hundreds of miles
But the mother of all thunder storms is the supercell
Supercells are the least common mode of storms and
Their defining character is a deep persistently rotating updraft called a mesocyclone
Super cells are often referred to as rotating thunderstorms
This rotating nature enables them to generate torrential rainfall and severe winds
Intense and continuous lightning activity
Enormous hail
And it's super cells that are responsible for producing the majority of the world's violent tornadoes
Supercells can occur all over the world but in one location they turn up with alarming frequency
Tornado alley in the United States
Fewer than 30 percent of super cells produce tornadoes
And scientists are still trying to understand why one supercell produces violet tornadoes
And another does not
Supercells come in three different classifications. The low precipitation supercell or LP
The classic supercell
And the high precipitation supercell or HP where heavy rainfall shroud much of the internal storm structure
They often form as one mode and transition to another
Once a supercell is on the roll it can dominate the atmosphere persisting for hours and hours
Sometimes the atmosphere generates mixed modes
Storms with characteristics of other storm types
Squalls with super cells embedded in their lines or hybrid cells with both the squall and supercell structures
No two super cells are exactly the same
With their explosive energy and wind shear sculpted beauty
Being in their presence can be captivating or terrifying.
Or both. They are a dream scenario for nature photographers
And time-lapse photography truly captures their beauty
the mesocyclone twists the supercell into dramatic sky scapes.
A storm that resembles stacked plates
With tiers like upside down wedding cake
Or the alien invading mothership
With the most powerful supercells time-lapse photography isn't necessary to capture their intense churning
The clouds move so fast the storm doesn't appear from this world