supercell

American  

[soo-per-sel] / ˈsu pərˌsɛl /

noun

Meteorology.

1. 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.

---

Etymology

Origin of supercell

First recorded in 1960–65; super- ( def. ) + cell ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

supercell

It came as a large supercell storm cloud crossed the city during the afternoon bringing intense rain and large hail.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2024

But in Fort Lauderdale the supercell was in a lull between opposing weather systems, Carbin said.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 14, 2023

Researchers at Northern Illinois University looked at data from the past 15 years, which compared different types of supercell storms.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2023

Ashley and study co-author Victor Gensini, another meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University and a longtime tornado expert, said they are watching the potential for another supercell blow-up in the Mid-South on Friday.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 27, 2023

Saturday’s supercell in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties dropped an EF1 tornado that uprooted oak and pine trees and toppled power poles.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 13, 2023