Home
Weather New York
WeatherRadar
RainRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Weather News /

    Capturing the Beast: Photographer Bravely Films Rotating Supercell Spawning Multiple Tornadoes

03:00 PM
May 2, 2023

Extreme weather
Photographer bravely films supercell

On April 19, an Oklahoma-based weather photographer, Alexander Spahn, captured a rotating supercell on timelapse.

Supercells are highly organized and long-lived thunderstorms that can produce strong winds, hail, and tornadoes. They are formed when wind shear creates an updraft that tilts the storm, allowing for a persistent rotating updraft called a mesocyclone to develop. This rotation can then lead to the formation of a tornado.

The footage captured by Spahn shows the impressive structure of a supercell, with its rotating updraft and ominous cloud formations over Etowah, Oklahoma, to the southeast of Oklahoma City. According to Spahn, this particular supercell produced "prolific lightning" and spawned "numerous tornadoes."

supercell
The WeatherRadar image shows a cluster of supercells moving across the Oklahoma City metro area during the afternoon hours of April 19, 2023. You can use the WeatherRadar to spot supercells as they are associated with frequent lightning (yellow and orange dots) and intense rainfall (dark blue and purple shading).

Supercells are among the most dangerous types of thunderstorms and can cause significant damage and loss of life. Several alerts were issued for these storms the day the footage was captured, indicating the potential for tornadoes to form.

While the footage captured by Spahn is undoubtedly breathtaking, it also serves as a reminder of the power of severe weather. It is essential for individuals and communities to stay informed and stay attentive to alerts, especially when supercells are in the forecast.

Federico Di Catarina
More on the topic
Hurricane Polo heads for Mexico. Severe weather risk. . . Monday, September 28, 2026
Hurricane Polo is set to make landfall in the Baja-California.
Monday, September 28, 2026

Severe weather risk

Hurricane Polo heads for Mexico
Hawaii's second 2026 hurricane impact. Hurricane Lowell. . . Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Hurricane Lowell

Hawaii's second 2026 hurricane impact
10 facts about fog. Low clouds. . . Sunday, September 27, 2026
Fog impacting the Appalachian Mountains.
Sunday, September 27, 2026

Low clouds

10 facts about fog
All weather news
This might also interest you
When a hurricane is on the way.... You can be ready!. . . Thursday, October 8, 2026
Thursday, October 8, 2026

You can be ready!

When a hurricane is on the way...
Isaias landfall dangers. Surge, outages, flooding. . . Friday, October 9, 2026
Friday, October 9, 2026

Surge, outages, flooding

Isaias landfall dangers
Isaias post-landfall impacts. Southeast soaker. . . Saturday, October 10, 2026
Southeast impacts of Isaias
Saturday, October 10, 2026

Southeast soaker

Isaias post-landfall impacts
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

instagramfacebookthreadslinkList