Polarimetric Radar Observations of a Long-Lived Supercell and Associated Tornadoes on 10–11 December 2021

Abstract

Abstract We present environmental and polarimetric radar observations of a long-lived December supercell that tracked approximately 750 km from Arkansas to northern Kentucky. The storm was associated with two long-track EF4 tornadoes, one of which was among the longest-tracked tornadoes recorded in the United States. The supercell’s life cycle is documented from 2000 UTC 10 to 0700 UTC 11 December 2021, using data from five operational polarimetric weather radars. After convection initiation in central Arkansas, it took nearly 4 h for a supercell to develop. Afterward, the storm’s ZDR column and arc became anomalously large leading up to genesis of the first EF4 tornado. During this time, the storm’s environment had moderate convective available potential energy (CAPE) and strong deep-layer shear. A cell interaction at about 0200 UTC disrupted the supercell updraft, weakening the ZDR arc and column, and initiating the largest radar-implied hailfall event observed with this storm. The remnant circulation associated with the first EF4 tornado did not fully dissipate, and it appeared to merge with the low-level mesocyclone on the nose of a rear-flank downdraft surge likely initiated by the hailfall. It is hypothesized that this merger was important to the intensification of the storm’s second EF4 tornado, which lasted nearly 3 h and traveled approximately 267 km. During the second EF4 tornado the storm experienced decreasing CAPE and increasing storm relative helicity. Increasing interactions with other cells eventually weakened the storm, and its original updraft was obscured before the storm’s remnants dissipated in northern Kentucky. Significance Statement In December 2021, a long-lived supercell thunderstorm produced two long-track, violent tornadoes, including one that produced historic damage across western Kentucky. Radar observations indicate that, once the storm became a supercell, its updraft became anomalously large relative to similar storms studied prior. Simultaneously its storm-relative inflow strengthened markedly, supporting the first long-lived tornado. Interactions with a developing thunderstorm disrupted the supercell’s updraft, leading to hail fallout and updraft weakening. The remnant circulation associated with the first strong tornado merged with the supercell’s updraft and became a rotation source for the second long-track tornado, which persisted for nearly 3 h. Eventually interactions with other thunderstorms weakened the supercell.