What Causes Satellite Tornadoes?

Supercell Updraft

• A supercell thunderstorm acquires rotation through the force of vertical wind shear. Tornadoes form in the updraft region of the supercell thunderstorm. The formation of new updrafts consequently spawns a tornado family, usually on the storm's southwest side. Once this formation occurs, powerful sudden updrafts can create satellite tornadoes.

Vortex Breakdown

• As the vortex of a tornado breaks down or dissipates, a downward extension of the tornado's downdraft occurs toward the center surface. Rotation-generating shear between flowing air drawn inward through the updraft and flowing air drawn outward from the downdraft stretches and will form suction vortices or satellite tornadoes.

Spiral Breakdown

• A spinning central vortex (parent tornado) can sometimes break down because of lowered viscosity, pressure and centrifugal forces, creating large enough swirls to evolve into one or more vortices. Suction vortices rotate fast inside the tornado. Simulations of this phenomenon have been created, showing how suction vortices form in very small regions close to the ground, aided by lower boundary friction.

Mesocyclone Origin

• Mesocyclones are the source of major tornadoes; however, not all mesocyclones bring forth tornadoes. Warm and wet surface air feeds mesocyclones, so when this essential element runs out, the mesocyclone just dies down. Abundance of it (muggy air after rain or hail) will fuel the mesocyclone, stretching the spinning cloud to form a tornado or a family of tornadoes all at once, spinning around the parent tornado.