May 19th Derecho and HP Supercell (2024)

Central Kansas Supercell with tornadoes

Northwest of Russell
Russell County

Date	5/19/2024
Time (Local)	3:32 pm CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	98 mph
Path Length	1.7 Miles
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Majority of the damage was to numerous power poles that were either broken or bent.

Track Map

Northeast of Wilson
Ellsworth County

Track Map

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Additional pictures from the HP Supercell that affected Central Kansas

Easter Rice county at 6:15 @kwch12 @NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/1wKEKXitMO — Ross Janssen (@KWCHRoss) May 19, 2024	Hail 20 min ago from 6 miles east of Geneseo #kswx @NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/2kOOdzY4X5 — Ross Janssen (@KWCHRoss) May 19, 2024	@LisaTeachman @NWSWichita @KWCHRoss pic.twitter.com/9Zy5S9A2kN — Angelia Isbell (@angeldiva1981) May 19, 2024
This was when the storm moved thru at my mom's in Northern Salina. The hail covered the ground 😔😔😔😔😔 pic.twitter.com/vasGr6RuMo — Angelia Isbell (@angeldiva1981) May 19, 2024	Fresh tornado on the ground becoming rain wrapped Dorrance, Kansas 04:10 PM @NWSDodgeCity @NWSWichita #kswx zzz https://t.co/jOqgSnL6KE pic.twitter.com/rkgAfrytEv — Jordan Carruthers🌪🌩🇨🇦 (@ExtremeStormJC) May 19, 2024	@NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/7VLvgMGvWL — MoFruh (@MoFruh) May 19, 2024
@NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/4rWMJRkkIo — MoFruh (@MoFruh) May 19, 2024	Monster ground scraping supercell moving over Beverly, Kansas 05:01 PM @NWSWichita @NWSDodgeCity #kswx https://t.co/IGBjVv4gnM pic.twitter.com/NAShrwF5LT — Jordan Carruthers🌪🌩🇨🇦 (@ExtremeStormJC) May 19, 2024	Looks like another (possible) brief tornado @NWSWichita https://t.co/P4GSJQEW11 — James Cuellar (@jam_ezcellular) May 19, 2024
New tornado over I-70 east of Bunker Hill @NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/j4EK1sbK4N — Spencer Dant 🌪️ (@sdantwx) May 19, 2024	Five east of Gorham right along old 40! @NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/CVDRWZDAHa — Matt McCune (@ksufearless) May 19, 2024	@NWSWichita confirmed #tornado on the ground heading towards Russell Kansas! @FreddyMcKinneyR livestream credit. pic.twitter.com/vCCHRqZafn — Renée Capo (@ReneeCapo80) May 19, 2024
VERY large #hail in Salina, #Kansas earlier along I-70. #KSwx Multiple trucks get pounded at a car wash! Contact Curtislergner@gmail.com for licensing. pic.twitter.com/j9rfCg6Pfa — Chicago & Midwest Storm Chasers (@ChicagoMWeather) May 19, 2024	here	here

Derecho

By definition it is considered a derecho if the swath of wind damage extends at least 400 miles (about 650 kilometers), is at least 60 miles (about 100 km) wide, includes wind gusts of at least 58 mph (93 km/h) along most of its length, and also includes several, well-separated 75 mph (121 km/h) or greater gusts,

Panning radar scans/storm reports from yesterday's crazy merging MCS in Kansas. Love all the cold pool dynamics that radar reveals. pic.twitter.com/z16vrpvPTl
— Mark De Bruin (@mark_debruin) May 20, 2024

Straight-line wind damage in Burrton	Straight-line wind damage in Burrton	Straight-line wind damage near Halstead
Straight-line wind damage east of Newton	Straight-line wind damage near Newton	Straight-line wind damage east of Newton
The southern slope of Mount Hope just got slammed by 80 mph winds. Power is out, multiple large limbs down, one tree on a house, 2 others possibly damaged by trees or limbs.@NWSWichita @LisaTeachman @JayPraterKAKE @KWCHRoss #kswx pic.twitter.com/GuY7Ghqk68 — Lacewing Photography 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@LacewingPhoto) May 20, 2024	Update from @HarveyCountyEM on May 19 storm damage:@NWSWichita is in the county today to assess storm damage and determine the classifications of the storm. As of 10 a.m., Evergy reported about 3,100 customers affected with outages in the county. Butler Electric reported 27. pic.twitter.com/olRR0q5nSJ — HarveyCountyKS (@HarveyCountyKS) May 20, 2024	@NWSWichita west side of Halstead. Not sure if this is the tornado but this was within 5 minutes of the storm hitting. (7:48pm) pic.twitter.com/4CuTiNZGap — TheFallguy (@TFallguy) May 20, 2024
Pieces from a outdoor shed that got damaged in Kingman , KS. @NWSWichita @CamVenableKAKE @BrittFosterWX @JayPraterKAKE @FrankWaughKAKE @KAKEnews pic.twitter.com/XMQOxMnSFK — Austin Crutcher (@thunderpa57) May 20, 2024	This was across the street from me here in Hutchinson @NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/SHStgpwko3 — Scott Beye (@Beyeguy93) May 20, 2024	Tree branch across vehicle Location: (37.8993018, -97.7800423) Haven, Kansas@NWSWichita @MWStormTrackers @foxweather #kswx pic.twitter.com/gJbDbWXrYU — Lucas Munzlinger (@MunzlingerWX) May 20, 2024
Major tree damage in town of Haven, Kansas Location: (37.8994966, -97.7759094)@MWStormTrackers @NWSWichita @foxweather #kswx pic.twitter.com/GcZv9xfpx7 — Lucas Munzlinger (@MunzlingerWX) May 20, 2024	Big time tree damage 1 mile S of Haven, Kansas. @NWSWichita @KWCH12 @KSNStormTrack3 @KAKEnews #kswx #wxtwitter pic.twitter.com/0BGe1YjpAd — Kansas Weather Guy (@ks_weather_guy) May 20, 2024	here

Radar


Radar animation from the HP Supercell that tracked along I-70	Radar animation of the derecho as it tracked across south central KS

Storm Reports

Preliminary Local Storm Report...SummaryNational Weather Service Wichita KS1255 AM CDT Mon May 20 2024..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON.....DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS..0327 PM Tornado 4 ESE Gorham 38.87N 98.96W05/19/2024 Russell KS Broadcast Media Broadcast media reports tornado west of Russell. 0342 PM Hail Russell 38.89N 98.86W05/19/2024 E2.50 Inch Russell KS Public 0342 PM Hail Russell 38.89N 98.85W05/19/2024 E1.25 Inch Russell KS Public 0343 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Russell 38.89N 98.86W05/19/2024 E70 MPH Russell KS Public 0345 PM Hail 1 SSE Russell 38.87N 98.85W05/19/2024 M1.75 Inch Russell KS Public Picture and video sent via X. 0347 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Russell Airport 38.87N 98.81W05/19/2024 M82 MPH Russell KS ASOS 0348 PM Hail Russell 38.89N 98.85W05/19/2024 M1.75 Inch Russell KS Public Spotter reported large trees being blown down. 0352 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Sylvan Grove 39.02N 98.39W05/19/2024 E70 MPH Lincoln KS Public 0412 PM Tornado 1 NNE Dorrance 38.86N 98.58W05/19/2024 Russell KS Public Picture sent via X. 0419 PM Hail Wilson 38.82N 98.47W05/19/2024 M1.75 Inch Ellsworth KS Law Enforcement 0423 PM Tornado 4 SSE Wilson 38.78N 98.45W05/19/2024 Ellsworth KS Law Enforcement 0446 PM Tornado 7 S Lincoln 38.93N 98.15W05/19/2024 Lincoln KS Trained Spotter Dust being kicked up but believe it is rain wrapped. 0449 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 10 WSW Westfall 38.88N 98.17W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Lincoln KS Public 0449 PM Hail 10 WSW Westfall 38.88N 98.17W05/19/2024 E1.00 Inch Lincoln KS Public 0453 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 N Ellsworth 38.81N 98.23W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Ellsworth KS Trained Spotter Spotter reported torrential rainfall. 0455 PM Hail 6 S Dorrance 38.76N 98.58W05/19/2024 E1.50 Inch Russell KS Trained Spotter 0507 PM Hail 1 S Russell Airport 38.86N 98.82W05/19/2024 E2.00 Inch Russell KS Public 0514 PM Hail Wilson 38.83N 98.47W05/19/2024 E1.00 Inch Ellsworth KS Law Enforcement 0525 PM Hail Ellsworth 38.73N 98.23W05/19/2024 M1.00 Inch Ellsworth KS Trained Spotter Nickel to quarter sized hail in town. No wind damage found. 0540 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Brookville 38.77N 97.87W05/19/2024 Saline KS Emergency Mngr Powerlines and tree lines are down. Time is estimated from radar. 0540 PM Hail 3 ENE Glendale 38.91N 97.81W05/19/2024 M1.75 Inch Saline KS Public Picture of what appears to be golf ball sized hail on X. 0540 PM Flood 6 N Ellsworth 38.83N 98.22W05/19/2024 Ellsworth KS Law Enforcement Water reported over the roadway at Kansas Highway 14 and Avenue D. 0540 PM Flood 5 ENE Wilson 38.85N 98.39W05/19/2024 Ellsworth KS Law Enforcement Water over the roadway at Interstate 70 and 6th Road. 0546 PM Hail 2 NNW Salina 38.84N 97.64W05/19/2024 E1.50 Inch Saline KS Emergency Mngr Ping Pong size hail on State Street just west of Salina. 0554 PM Hail 2 N Salina 38.84N 97.62W05/19/2024 E1.75 Inch Saline KS Public 0559 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Salina Airport 38.79N 97.65W05/19/2024 M100 MPH Saline KS ASOS 0605 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Salina 38.83N 97.62W05/19/2024 Saline KS Emergency Mngr Powerlines and trees are down in Salina. 0615 PM Hail 6 E Geneseo 38.52N 98.04W05/19/2024 M1.50 Inch Rice KS Public KWCH shared picture of hail larger than quarters. 0618 PM Hail 5 ESE New Cambria 38.84N 97.43W05/19/2024 M1.00 Inch Saline KS Emergency Mngr 0639 PM Flood Salina 38.83N 97.61W05/19/2024 Saline KS Emergency Mngr Flooding is occurring on Crawford Street from Front to 3rd. 0645 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ENE Great Bend 38.37N 98.78W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Barton KS Trained Spotter 0649 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Great Bend Airport 38.35N 98.87W05/19/2024 M58 MPH Barton KS ASOS 0652 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Ellinwood 38.36N 98.58W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Barton KS CO-OP Observer 0702 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SE Lindsborg 38.55N 97.63W05/19/2024 McPherson KS Emergency Mngr power lines down. 0702 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Mcpherson 38.37N 97.67W05/19/2024 E60 MPH McPherson KS NWS Employee 0706 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 N Langdon 37.87N 98.33W05/19/2024 E70 MPH Reno KS Emergency Mngr 0711 PM Hail 3 W Durham 38.49N 97.28W05/19/2024 M0.88 Inch Marion KS Trained Spotter 0712 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Penalosa 37.72N 98.32W05/19/2024 M70 MPH Kingman KS Trained Spotter At least 70 mph winds, could have been higher. Four inch diameter tree limbs down. 0715 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 W Lyons 38.34N 98.23W05/19/2024 M56 MPH Rice KS AWOS Measured at Lyons Airport. 0716 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 E Partridge 37.96N 98.04W05/19/2024 M67 MPH Reno KS Mesonet Delayed report. Measured by Kansas State mesonet site. 0720 PM Hail 7 WSW Mcpherson 38.33N 97.78W05/19/2024 M1.25 Inch McPherson KS Trained Spotter 0725 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Mcpherson 38.37N 97.66W05/19/2024 McPherson KS Emergency Mngr Powerlines down in the 660 block of West Hayes. 0725 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Mcpherson 38.37N 97.67W05/19/2024 M60 MPH McPherson KS NWS Employee Off duty NWS employee reporting 60 mph winds. 0725 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Kingman 37.65N 98.11W05/19/2024 E80 MPH Kingman KS Public Lots of tree limbs in the roads and power is out to some of the town. 0729 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Kingman 37.67N 98.13W05/19/2024 M56 MPH Kingman KS AWOS Measured at Kingman airport. 0735 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Haven 37.90N 97.78W05/19/2024 Reno KS Emergency Mngr Roofs blown off of homes. 0736 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WSW Hutchinson 38.06N 97.93W05/19/2024 Reno KS Broadcast Media KAKE reporting roof blown off of a building on south Main Street. 0736 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Hutchinson 38.07N 97.93W05/19/2024 M70 MPH Reno KS Mesonet KAKE Weathernow Network measures 70 mph winds. 0737 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg South Hutchinson 38.04N 97.93W05/19/2024 Reno KS Emergency Mngr Multiple power lines down as well as structural damage reported. Time based on other reports. 0740 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 S Mount Hope 37.85N 97.66W05/19/2024 E80 MPH Sedgwick KS Trained Spotter 0740 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Hutchinson Airport 38.07N 97.86W05/19/2024 M86 MPH Reno KS ASOS 0746 PM Hail Hillsboro 38.35N 97.21W05/19/2024 E0.88 Inch Marion KS Trained Spotter Pea to nickel sized hail. 0747 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 NW Halstead 38.05N 97.56W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Harvey KS Trained Spotter 0753 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SE Maize 37.75N 97.42W05/19/2024 M59 MPH Sedgwick KS NWS Employee Davis Weather Station near 34th St. N and Ridge Rd. 0755 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg NW Wichita 37.74N 97.37W05/19/2024 Sedgwick KS Emergency Mngr Several power lines reported down in northwest Wichita. 0755 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 N Hesston 38.20N 97.43W05/19/2024 E65 MPH McPherson KS Trained Spotter 0755 PM Hail 4 N Hesston 38.20N 97.43W05/19/2024 E1.00 Inch McPherson KS Trained Spotter Quarter sized hail and 65 mph winds reported. 0756 PM Flood Mcpherson 38.37N 97.66W05/19/2024 McPherson KS Emergency Mngr Lots of street flooding reported in town. 0800 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 NE Valley Center 37.90N 97.30W05/19/2024 Sedgwick KS NWS Employee Delayed report. Roof blown off a metal outbuilding. 0802 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 ENE Newton 38.06N 97.28W05/19/2024 M64 MPH Harvey KS AWOS Newton Airport. 0803 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 WSW Whitewater 37.96N 97.17W05/19/2024 M72 MPH Harvey KS NWS Employee Off duty NWS employee had measurement of 72 mph. 0804 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Whitewater 37.97N 97.15W05/19/2024 E80 MPH Butler KS Fire Dept/Rescue Whitewater Fire Department estimates 70 to 80 mph winds. 0805 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Bentley 37.89N 97.52W05/19/2024 Sedgwick KS Emergency Mngr Power lines down. 0806 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ESE Bel Aire 37.75N 97.22W05/19/2024 M64 MPH Sedgwick KS ASOS Measured at Jabara Airport. 0808 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Newton 38.04N 97.34W05/19/2024 Harvey KS Broadcast Media Extensive tree damage in and around Newton, many roads blocked. Courtesy of AccuWeather. 0811 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NE East Wichita 37.71N 97.23W05/19/2024 M75 MPH Sedgwick KS Broadcast Media Measured near 13th and Webb. Courtesy of KAKE TV. 0811 PM Hail 3 W Peabody 38.17N 97.15W05/19/2024 E1.75 Inch Marion KS Trained Spotter 0813 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Potwin 37.94N 97.02W05/19/2024 Butler KS Fire Dept/Rescue 6 to 12 inch diameter tree limbs are reported down. 0818 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Burns 38.09N 96.89W05/19/2024 Marion KS Emergency Mngr Delayed report. On 20th street in Burns, a 40 by 60 foot polebarn was taken down, and a chicken coop was blown into a hedge row. Time estimated from radar. 0818 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Towanda 37.80N 97.00W05/19/2024 Butler KS Emergency Mngr Delayed report. Sporadic tree limbs down across the city. All limbs appear to be less than 5 inches in diameter. 0818 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Andover 37.68N 97.14W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Butler KS Fire Dept/Rescue 0820 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SW Burns 38.06N 96.91W05/19/2024 M68 MPH Butler KS Fire Dept/Rescue 0821 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Burns 38.09N 96.89W05/19/2024 E70 MPH Marion KS Fire Dept/Rescue 60 to 70 mph winds. 0825 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Augusta 37.68N 97.03W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Butler KS Trained Spotter 0825 PM Tstm Wnd Gst El Dorado 37.83N 96.86W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Butler KS Trained Spotter 0833 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Cassoday 38.04N 96.64W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Butler KS Trained Spotter one to two inch diameter tree limbs downed. 0834 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 ESE Augusta 37.68N 96.90W05/19/2024 Butler KS Emergency Mngr 6 inch diameter tree damage. 0835 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SE El Dorado 37.78N 96.82W05/19/2024 M58 MPH Butler KS AWOS Measured at the airport. 0836 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Matfield Green 38.16N 96.56W05/19/2024 Chase KS Law Enforcement Cedar tree blown over. Time is estimated from radar. 0853 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 8 SW Thrall 37.92N 96.42W05/19/2024 E55 MPH Greenwood KS Trained Spotter Pea size hail accompanied the wind. 0855 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Eureka Airport 37.85N 96.29W05/19/2024 M60 MPH Greenwood KS AWOS 0857 PM Flood 2 W East Wichita 37.68N 97.30W05/19/2024 Sedgwick KS Public Street flooding noted via social media video at intersection of Hillside and Waterman. 0910 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 N Virgil 38.04N 96.01W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Greenwood KS Trained Spotter 0912 PM Rain 3 W Augusta 37.68N 97.03W05/19/2024 M1.70 Inch Butler KS Trained Spotter Rainfall total for this evening. 0927 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 WSW Neosho Falls 37.98N 95.69W05/19/2024 E60 MPH Woodson KS Trained Spotter 0930 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Yates Center 37.86N 95.79W05/19/2024 M55 MPH Woodson KS Mesonet Kansas State Mesonet site. 0945 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 W Chanute 37.67N 95.48W05/19/2024 M54 MPH Neosho KS ASOS 0955 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Humboldt 37.81N 95.43W05/19/2024 Allen KS Emergency Mngr Trees and 4 inch diameter limbs down in Humboldt. 1018 PM Hail 1 NE North Newton 38.08N 97.34W05/19/2024 E1.00 Inch Harvey KS Trained Spotter Time estimated by radar.

Rain Reports

Environment

Insert synoptic summary.


Figure 1: Caption	Figure 2: Caption	Figure 3: Caption

Near-storm environment summary.


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Additional environmental data.


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May 19th Derecho and HP Supercell (2024)

FAQs

How to tell if a storm is a supercell? ›

Supercells often can be identified by viewing Doppler radar images. A classic supercell has several distinctive characteristics on radar including the hook echo, areas of enhanced reflectivity, and a bounded weak echo region. A low-level hook is often present on the right rear side of the storm.

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Is a supercell a tornado? ›

Supercells can be any size – large or small, low or high topped. They usually produce copious amounts of hail, torrential rainfall, strong winds, and substantial downbursts. Supercells are one of the few types of clouds that typically spawn tornadoes within the mesocyclone, although only 30% or fewer do so.

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Are supercells rare? ›

On the thunderstorm spectrum, supercells are the least common type of thunderstorm, but they have a high propensity to produce severe weather, including damaging winds, very large hail, and sometimes weak to violent tornadoes.

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How long do Supercell thunderstorms last? ›

Supercells can last two to six hours. They are the most likely storm to produce spectacular wind and hail damage as well as powerful tornadoes.

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What is thunderstorm short answer? ›

Thunderstorm - A rain-bearing cloud that also produces lightning. All thunderstorms are dangerous.

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What was the highest supercell storm ever recorded? ›

July 23, 2010, in Vivian, South Dakota, a severe supercell thunderstorm, which produced the world record hailstone (20 cm in diameter!) reached a maximum height of 17 km!

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What is an HP supercell? ›

High Precipitation (HP) Supercell: very heavy rainfall, possible large hail, downbursts and tornadoes. . High Precipitation (HP) Supercell very heavy rainfall, possible large hail, downbursts and tornadoes.

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Has there been an F6 tornado? ›

There has never been an (E)F-6 tornado recorded, but they're technically not impossible. An F-6 tornado would need to reach wind speeds beyond 318 mph; however, the highest wind speeds ever recorded on Earth were 302 mph.

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Can a dust devil hurt you? ›

Its size ranges from small (18 in/half a metre wide and a few yards/metres tall) to large (more than 30 ft/10 m wide and more than half a mile/1 km tall). The primary vertical motion is upward. Dust devils are usually harmless, but can on rare occasions grow large enough to pose a threat to both people and property.

What was the largest thunderstorm in history? ›

Flexi Says: The largest observed thunderstorm as measured by voltage occurred in India on December 1, 2014. Sunil Gupta, a scientist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, and his colleagues used a muon telescope to measure the electric potential of this thunderstorm at 1.3 billion volts!

What does a supercell look like from the ground? ›

Of all the storm types, supercell thunderstorms, or supercells, are most likely to produce severe weather, such as powerful wind, large hail and weak-to-violent tornadoes. Viewed from the ground, supercells take the shape of tall, anvil-shaped clouds.

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