Mesocyclone
Videos
A mesocyclone is a meso-gamma mesoscale region of rotation, typically around 2 to 6 mi in diameter, most often noticed on radar within thunderstorms. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is usually located
A mesocyclone (at left) in the Central Zone of the city of Piracicaba, in southeastern Brazil, on January 28, 2025
Supercell diagram with the mesocyclone rotation in red
Mesocyclones are sometimes visually identifiable by a rotating wall cloud like the one in this thunderstorm over Texas.
A tornado developing under a wall cloud within a mesocyclone near Falcon, Colorado
Wall cloud
Videos
A wall cloud is a large, localized, persistent, and often abrupt lowering of cloud that develops beneath the surrounding base of a cumulonimbus cloud and from which tornadoes sometimes form. It is typ
A rain-free base with a wall cloud lowering in the foreground and precipitation in the background. Taken in Needmore, Texas.
A wall cloud with tail cloud.
A shelf cloud over Enschede, Netherlands
A tornadic wall cloud with RFD clear slot.