noun
- A rotating column of air within a thunderstorm, typically 2–10 km in diameter, that can produce tornadoes.
Usage: meteorology; plural form of mesocyclone; technical term used in weather forecasting and storm research
Examples
- Meteorologists detected multiple mesocyclones on radar during the severe thunderstorm outbreak.
- The formation of mesocyclones within supercell storms often precedes tornado development.
- Storm chasers monitor mesocyclones to predict where tornadoes might touch down.
- Doppler radar can identify mesocyclones by their distinctive rotation signatures.
- The strongest mesocyclones are associated with the most violent tornadoes.