Science in GIFs: A Mesocyclone Supercell at West Point Nebraska
Why is this not a tornado?
Technically, a “tornado” is a rotating vortex cloud that touches the ground. Needs a funnel first. We’re looking at a “mesocyclone” which is the rapidly rotating core of a supercell from which tornadoes can form. Now, a tornado could form from this storm at any time, so it would have a tornado warning attached to it. These kinds of rotation are what is seen on radar.