Observations of a Storm Containing Misocyclones, Downbursts, and Horizontal Vortex Circulations

Abstract On 30 June 1982, a multicellular storm in Colorado produced four downbursts, three misocyclones, a miso-anticyclone, and horizontal vortex circulations within a relatively small area of the storm. Weather events associated with this storm included hail, heavy rain, and strong winds. A sounding taken two hours before storm formation showed the mixed layer was characterized by a nearly dry adiabatic lapse rate to ∼2 km and was relatively moist for eastern Colorado. A hodograph showed the environment had weak to moderate vertical shear of the horizontal wind, a condition conducive to the formation of downdraft misocyclones. The four-dimensional structure of this storm is documented below cloud base using winds, reflectivity, and thermodynamic data derived front multiple Doppler analysis. One misocyclone (<4 km scale) is particularly intense with a peak vorticity of ≈100 × 10−3 s−1 near cloud base. Despite the intense rotation, no tornadoes or funnels were observed and no damage was reported. Radar c...