Supercell, LP

Description

The Lovely Monster Gurley, NE is an LP (low precipitation) mesocyclone (rotating) supercell (isolated cloud); it has wonderful structure and unusual colors due to the massive fires that were burning near Fort Collins, CO. What sets a supercell apart from other thunderstorms is a deep, persistent rotating updraft called a mesocyclone, and it can last for several hours. LP supercells form where the air holds little moisture, and what precipitation they do produce usually falls as very large hail.