Transfixing Supercell
Photo: Mike Hollingshead
This is a picture of a supercell storm that was taken in York, Nebraska by storm chaser Mike Hollingshead. A supercell storm is a thunderstorm that has a deep and persistent rotating updraft. They are sometimes referred to as a “rotating storm”. Supercells are usually isolated from other thunderstorms and can dominate the local weather from over 20 miles away. With this picture, we can clearly see what is meant by the upward draft and rotating nature of the storm. However, aside from this supercell’s shape, one of the most striking characteristics of this photograph are the two colors of blue and purple that are clearly divided down the middle of the storm. It looks like more an image created with CGI than an act of nature. The next supercell looks more beautiful than scary.
