supercell

[ soo-per-sel ]

/ ˈsu pərˌsɛl /

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noun Meteorology.

a highly organized thunderstorm that can last for several hours, capable of producing both updrafts and downdrafts exceeding 100 miles per hour, large hailstones, tornadoes, and flash flooding (often used attributively): a supercell in Kansas City;supercell storms.

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Origin of supercell

First recorded in 1960–65; super- + cell

Words nearby supercell

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, supercapital, supercar, supercargo, supercede, supercell, supercharge, supercharged, supercharger, superchurch, superciliary

How to use supercell in a sentence

Such tremendously high values almost always indicate large hail, in the context of a supercell.
Tornado hit Columbia Thursday, while straight-line winds slammed Fredericksburg|Jeffrey Halverson, Jason Samenow|July 30, 2021|Washington Post
These factors favor clusters or arc-shaped complexes of strong to severe thunderstorms, and possibly a few supercells or rotating thunderstorms.
After producing several tornado warnings and funnel clouds, storms exiting region|Jason Samenow, Jeffrey Halverson|July 29, 2021|Washington Post
They sounded as a long-track supercell or rotating thunderstorm dropped tornadoes while leaving behind several pockets of damage.
How a tornadic storm tore through West Virginia and parts of northern Maryland Monday|Jeffrey Halverson, Jason Samenow|May 6, 2021|Washington Post
Severe weather in the Upper Midwest caused a few spectacular looking supercells to form Wednesday.
PM Update: Record warmth of today tapers somewhat Friday|Ian Livingston|March 11, 2021|Washington Post

Unlike the better-known rotating supercells, however, derechos form from long bands of swiftly moving thunderstorms, sometimes called squall lines.
What’s behind August 2020’s extreme weather? Climate change and bad luck|Carolyn Gramling|August 27, 2020|Science News