storm cell

American  

noun

1. an air mass formed by powerful updrafts and downdrafts moving in convective loops, the smallest unit of a storm system.

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storm cell Scientific  

1. An air mass that contains up and down drafts in convective loops, moves and reacts as a single entity, and functions as the smallest unit of a storm-producing system.

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Example Sentences

The flash and bang was an unexpected “one-hit wonder” that came from a small storm cell, meteorologist Tyler Kranz said.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2022

The Lifeguard Division is working with @NWSLosAngeles to monitor the current storm cell.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2022

The damaging storm cell erupted in the zone of collision between these two boundaries, which behaved like very localized cold fronts.

From Washington Post • Jul. 27, 2021

Bentley announced in an Instagram post that Misamore had lost his home on Tuesday, sharing a video of the storm cell as well as photos of the tornadoes' destruction.

From Fox News • Mar. 4, 2020

A brilliant late-afternoon sun readied to break over the edge of a massive storm cell, creating a near-tent of Jacob’s ladders in the airspace just south of the airfield.

From Golf Digest • Sep. 25, 2017