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Anticyclonic tornado

Tornadoes that spin in the opposite direction of normal tornadoes

Tornadoes that spin in the opposite direction of normal tornadoes

An anticyclonic tornado is a tornado which rotates in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and a counterclockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. The term is a naming convention denoting the anomaly from normal rotation which is cyclonic in upwards of 98 percent of tornadoes. Many anticyclonic tornadoes are smaller and weaker than cyclonic tornadoes, forming from a different process, as either companion/satellite tornadoes or nonmesocyclonic tornadoes.

Formation

Most strong tornadoes form in the inflow and updraft area bordering the updraft-downdraft interface (which is also near the mesoscale "triple point") zone of supercell thunderstorms. The thunderstorm itself is rotating, with a rotating updraft known as a mesocyclone, and then a smaller area of rotation at lower altitude the tornadocyclone (or low-level mesocyclone) which produces or enables the smaller rotation that is a tornado. All of these may be quasi-vertically aligned continuing from the ground to the mid-upper levels of the storm. All of these cyclones and scaling all the way up to large extratropical (low-pressure systems) and tropical cyclones rotate cyclonically. Rotation in these synoptic scale systems stems partly from the Coriolis effect, but thunderstorms and tornadoes are too small to be significantly affected. The common property here is an area of lower pressure, thus surrounding air flows into the area of less dense air forming cyclonic rotation. The rotation of the thunderstorm itself is induced mostly by vertical wind shear, specifically clockwise turning as altitude increases (called a veered vertical profile, although backed profiles can occur with anticyclonic supercells).

Various processes can produce an anticyclonic tornado. Most often they are satellite tornadoes of larger tornadoes which are directly associated with the tornadocyclone and mesocyclone. Occasionally anticyclonic tornadoes occur as an anticyclonic companion (mesoanticyclone) to a mesocyclone within a single storm. This is extremely rare and has only been documented 5 total times. Anticyclonic tornadoes can occur as the primary tornado with a mesocyclone and under a rotating wall cloud. Also, anticyclonic supercells (with mesoanticyclone), which usually are storms that split and move to the left of the parent storm motion, though very rarely spawning tornadoes, spawn anticyclonic tornadoes. There is an increased incidence of anticyclonic tornadoes associated with tropical cyclones, and mesovortices within bow echoes may spawn anticyclonic tornadoes.

The first anticyclonic tornado associated with a mesoanticyclone was spotted on WSR-88D weather radar in Sunnyvale, California on May 4, 1998. The tornado was an F2 on the Fujita Scale.

Known "anticyclonic tornado" events

DateF#/EF# RatingLocationNotes and References
8 June 1951cat3}}F3Corn, OklahomaFirst known tornado filmed in the US, a companion or cyclic tornado to another significant tornado. It is officially listed as one tornado event by the CDNS report and the NCDC.
6 June 1975cat1}}F1Freedom, OklahomaOne of three tornadoes to touch down in the area.
13 June 1976cat3}}F3Jordan, IowaTornadoes of 1976#June 13 – A satellite tornado to the F5 Jordan, Iowa tornado.
3 June 1980cat1}}F1Grand Island, Nebraskaurl=https://www.weather.gov/gid/53032title=NWS Hastings: June 3, 1980 Grand Island Tornadoespublisher=NWSaccessdate=April 18, 2019}}
3 June 1980cat3}}F3Grand Island, Nebraskatitle=Nebraska Event Report: F3 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10066169website=National Centers for Environmental Informationpublisher=National Weather Serviceaccess-date=25 May 2022}}
3 June 1980cat1}}F1Grand Island, Nebraskatitle=Nebraska Event Report: F1 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10066171website=National Centers for Environmental Informationpublisher=National Weather Serviceaccess-date=25 May 2022}}
4 April 1981cat4}}F4West Bend, Wisconsin1981 West Bend tornado – Strongest anticyclonic tornado ever recorded.
13 June 1998cat2}}F2North Oklahoma City, OklahomaTornado outbreak of June 13, 1998 – Sixth of seven tornadoes to touch down from the same supercell.
19 April 2002storm}}F0Lubbock, Texas"The tornado was produced by an antimesocyclone, which was located on the north flank of a left-split storm."
6 September 2004unk}}F?Chek-Lap-Kok International Airport, Hong Konglast1=Kosibafirst1=Karen A.last2=Robinsonfirst2=Paullast3=Chanfirst3=P. W.last4=Wurmanfirst4=Joshuatitle=Wind Field of a Nonmesocyclone Anticyclonic Tornado Crossing the Hong Kong International Airportjournal=Advances in Meteorologypublisher=Hindawidate=2014volume=2014issue= 597378pages=1–7doi=10.1155/2014/597378doi-access=free }}
24 April 2006cat1}}F1El Reno, OklahomaSecond of two F1 tornadoes in the area.
20 June 2006cat1}}F1Rushville, NebraskaA house, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed on a farmstead.
2 October 2007storm}}EF0Bussey, IowaTornadoes of 2007#October 2 – This brief anticyclonic touched down in an open field southeast of Bussey, doing no damage.
23 May 2009storm}}EF0Maxwell, NebraskaLaw enforcement reported a landspout tornado north and east of the Maxwell Interstate 80 interchange. The tornado touched down briefly in an open area. Based on radar.
10 May 2010storm}}EF0Nardin, Oklahomaurl = https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20100510title = The May 10, 2010 Tornado Outbreak in Oklahomadate = 2010publisher = National Weather Service Forecast Office - Norman, Oklahomaaccess-date = 2019-05-02 }}
10 May 2010cat1}}EF1Bray, Oklahomatitle=Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=231894website=National Centers for Environmental Informationpublisher=National Weather Serviceaccess-date=25 May 2022}}
10 May 2010cat1}}EF1Southern Norman, Oklahomatitle=Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=231958website=National Centers for Environmental Informationpublisher=National Weather Serviceaccess-date=25 May 2022}}
10 May 2010cat1}}EF1Wayne, OklahomaTornado outbreak of May 10–13, 2010 – Fourth of five anticyclonic tornadoes on this day; was up to a 1/2 mile wide and was briefly accompanied by a cyclonic EF0 satellite tornado.
10 May 2010cat1}}EF1Lake Eufaula, OklahomaTornado outbreak of May 10–13, 2010 – Last of five anticyclonic tornadoes on this day; was up to a 5/8 mile wide.
31 May 2013cat2}}EF2Yukon, OklahomaTornado outbreak of May 26–31, 2013 – A long-lived strong satellite tornado that was southeast of the record-breaking EF3 El Reno tornado.
4 June 2015storm}}EF0Simla, Coloradotitle=Storm Damage Surveys for June 4th Tornadoesurl=https://www.weather.gov/bou/StormSurveyspublisher=Denver/Boulder, CO Weather Forecast Officeaccess-date=10 April 2019 }}
4 June 2015storm}}EF0Kutch, Coloradotitle=Colorado Event Report: EF0 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=590658publisher=National Climatic Data Centeryear=2015access-date=November 3, 2015}}
31 March 2016storm}}EF0Hohenwald, TennesseeTornadoes of 2016#March 30–April 1 – A brief anticyclonic tornado snapped and uprooted trees, downed several large tree branches and inflicted minor roof damage to a home and barn.
5 April 2017cat1}}EF1Shelbyville, TennesseeTornadoes of 2017#April 4–6 – A landspout anticyclonic tornado snapped damaged trees, cars, and structures.
15 June 2019storm}}EF0Johnsonville, South DakotaTornadoes of 2019#June 15–16 – This tornado lasted approximately 45 seconds and damaged about seven trees.
13 March 2021cat1}}EF1Canyon, TexasTornadoes of 2021#March 13 — A satellite tornado snapped power poles along Interstate 27.
29 July 2021storm}}EF0Bustleton, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaTornado outbreak of July 28–29, 2021 – A weak tornado damaged buildings and trees.
27 August 2021storm}}EF0Dougherty, Iowa"This very brief track was found in Sentinel satellite imagery and stayed in fields for its existence. Based on the location in the supercell, inflow wind trajectories along the left side of the track, and striation patterns in the fields, there is a high likelihood that this was an anti-cyclonic tornado."
30 April 2024cat1}}EF1Loveland, Oklahomatitle=NWS Damage Survey for 04/30/24 Tornado Event - Update #2url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSOUN&e=202405021901via=Iowa Environmental Mesonetpublisher=National Weather Service Norman, Oklahomaaccess-date=May 2, 2024location=Norman, Oklahomadate=May 2, 2024type=Public Information Statement}}
26 May 2024cat2}}EF2Decatur, ArkansasA strong anticyclonic tornado that occurred simultaneously with an EF3 tornado to its northwest. Homes were damaged, storage buildings were destroyed, and numerous trees and power poles were snapped.
20 June 2025storm}}EF0Sanborn, North DakotaAn anticyclonic tornado that occurred simultaneously with the Spiritwood Tornado and on the same night as the Enderlin Tornado.

References

References

  1. Edwards, Roger. "The Online Tornado FAQ". NWS Storm Prediction Center.
  2. Bunkers, Matthew J.. (2007-01-31). "Documentation of a Rare Tornadic Left-Moving Supercell". E-Journal of Severe Storms Meteorology.
  3. Stull, Roland B.. (2000). "Meteorology for Scientists and Engineers". Thomson Learning.
  4. Monteverdi, John P.. (November 2001). "First WSR-88D Documentation of an Anticyclonic Supercell with Anticyclonic Tornadoes: The Sunnyvale–Los Altos, California, Tornadoes of 4 May 1998". Monthly Weather Review.
  5. "Oklahoma Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  6. (2003). "The Tornado Natures Ultimate Windstorm". University of Oklahoma Press.
  7. "Oklahoma Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  8. (11 November 2007). "Freedom, Oklahoma Anticyclonic Tornado - June 6, 1975". cyclonejimcom.
  9. "Twister: Fury on the Plains (1995)". Music Video Productions (co-production); The Tornado Project.
  10. "Iowa Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  11. (October 1980). "The Iowa Cyclonic-Anticyclonic Tornado Pair and Its Parent Thunderstorm". Monthly Weather Review.
  12. "NWS Hastings: June 3, 1980 Grand Island Tornadoes". NWS.
  13. "Nebraska Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  14. "Nebraska Event Report: F3 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  15. "Nebraska Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  16. "Wisconsin Event Report: F4 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  17. "Oklahoma Event Report: F2 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  18. (13 June 2020). "June 13, 1998: Rare OKC twister defies nature, spins clockwise". KFOR.
  19. "Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  20. (2014). "Wind Field of a Nonmesocyclone Anticyclonic Tornado Crossing the Hong Kong International Airport". Hindawi.
  21. "Oklahoma Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  22. (5 June 2013). "The rare "anticyclonic" tornado in El Reno, Okla.; not its first encounter". The Washington Post.
  23. "Nebraska Event Report: F1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  24. "Iowa Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  25. "Nebraska Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  26. (2010). "The May 10, 2010 Tornado Outbreak in Oklahoma". National Weather Service Forecast Office - Norman, Oklahoma.
  27. "Oklahoma Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  28. "Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  29. "Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  30. "Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  31. "Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  32. "Oklahoma Event Report: EF2 Tornado". National Weather Service.
  33. Norman, N. W. S.. (2013-06-04). "The tornado count for May 31 will rise as analysis continues, including an anticyclonic EF2 tornado SE of the El Reno tornado. #okwx".
  34. "Storm Damage Surveys for June 4th Tornadoes". Denver/Boulder, CO Weather Forecast Office.
  35. (2015). "Colorado Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center.
  36. (2015). "Colorado Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Climatic Data Center.
  37. (2016). "Tennessee Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information.
  38. "March 31, 2016 Tornadoes".
  39. (7 April 2017). "A "very unique event": Rare anticyclonic tornado touched down in southeastern Tennessee Wednesday".
  40. (2017). "Tennessee Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information.
  41. (2019). "South Dakota Event Report: EF0 Tornado". National Centers for Environmental Information.
  42. "A Rare Clockwise-Rotating Tornado Touched Down in South Dakota Last Weekend".
  43. (19 June 2019). "Rare clockwise-spinning tornado touches down in South Dakota".
  44. "Rare anticyclonic tornado spotted in Deuel County".
  45. "Storm Events Database".
  46. "Storm Events Database July 29, 2021". National Centers for Environmental Information.
  47. "Storm Events Database August 27, 2021". National Centers for Environmental Information.
  48. (May 2, 2024). "NWS Damage Survey for 04/30/24 Tornado Event - Update #2". National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma.
  49. (May 29, 2024). "NWS Damage Survey for 05/25-26/2024 Tornado Event - Update 1". National Weather Service Tulsa, Oklahoma.
  50. (July 18, 2025). "NWS Summary for 06/20/2025 - Update 1". US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service.
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