mesocyclone

[ mez-uh-sahy-klohn, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh- ]

noun

, Meteorology.

1. a small cyclone that arises near a thunderstorm and is sometimes associated with the occurrence of tornadoes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mesocyclone¹

First recorded in 1970–75; meso- + cyclone

Example Sentences

Precipitation in the storm cloud pushes the mesocyclone down, and as parts of it are pressurized and exposed to different temperatures, a funnel is created.

From New York Times

The mighty mesocyclone that was responsible for both tornadoes was embedded within a line of storms that passed the region.

From Washington Post

These factors fuel an engine of rising and rotating air called a mesocyclone, which powers a supercell.

From Scientific American

In these potentially tornado-spawning storms, the mesocyclone begins to extend toward the ground, narrowing as it does.

From Scientific American

These uncommon tornadoes form from a single supercell storm—a storm with a rotating updraft called a mesocyclone—that can persist for hours.

From Scientific American