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Satellite tornado

Smaller tornado that orbits around a larger parent tornado

Smaller tornado that orbits around a larger parent tornado

A satellite tornado is a tornado that revolves around a larger, primary tornado and interacts with the same mesocyclone. Satellite tornadoes occur apart from the primary tornado and are not considered subvortices; the primary tornado and satellite tornadoes are considered to be separate tornadoes. The cause of satellite tornadoes is not known. Such tornadoes are more often anticyclonic than are typical tornadoes and these pairs may be referred to as tornado couplets. Satellite tornadoes commonly occur in association with very powerful, large, and destructive tornadoes, indicative also of the strength and severity of the parent supercell thunderstorm.

Satellite tornadoes are relatively uncommon. When a satellite tornado does occur, there is often more than one orbiting satellite spawned during the life cycle of the tornado or with successive primary tornadoes spawned by the parent supercell (a process known as cyclic tornadogenesis and leading to a tornado family). On tornado outbreak days, if satellite tornadoes occur with one supercell, there is an elevated probability of their occurrence with other supercells.

Satellite tornadoes tend to orbit their parent cyclonically, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, and will generally form near the edge of a supercell's mesocyclone, and gradually travel inward to the parent tornado. Satellite tornadoes may merge into their companion tornado although the appearance of this occurring is often an illusion caused when an orbiting tornado revolves around the backside of a primary tornado obscuring view of the satellite. During the March 1990 Central United States tornado outbreak, one member of a tornado family (rated F5) constricted and became a satellite tornado of the next tornado of the family before merging into the new primary tornado which soon also intensified to F5.

Examples

Some examples of tornado couplets include the Tri-State Tornado, multiple tornadoes during the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak, the 2007 Greensburg tornado, and the 2013 El Reno tornado. Satellite tornadoes are more likely to be recognized in recent decades than in the far past as eyewitness accounts as well as damage survey information are often available for later events. The advent of storm chasing, in particular, boosts the likelihood that satellite tornadoes are noticed visually and/or on mobile radar. These tornadoes may remain over open country and thus cause less structural damage and consequently are less widely known. Such examples include near Beloit, Kansas on 15 May 1990 and during Project VORTEX near Allison, Texas on 8 June 1995, among other events.

List of confirmed satellite tornadoes

DatePrimary F#/EF#Primary locationSatellite F#/EF#Satellite locationFatalitiesEvent
May 30, 1879cat4}}"F4name="tornado family"This track was probably a tornado family.}}unk}}"F?NW of Randolph, Kansas18 (60 injuries)
March 13, 1954cat3}}"F3Howard, Georgia to Roberta, Georgia to Macon, Georgiacat1}}"F1Turner Chapel, Georgia to Fickling, Georgia5 (75 injuries)Tornadoes of 1954#March 13
May 16, 1961cat1}}"F1title=New Mexico Event Report: F1 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10078394website=National Weather Servicepublisher=National Centers for Environmental Informationaccessdate=10 September 2020}}storm}}"F0title=New Mexico Event Report: F0 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10078393website=National Weather Servicepublisher=National Centers for Environmental Informationaccessdate=10 September 2020}}0Tornado outbreak sequence of May 14–June 1, 1962 (List)
June 13, 1976cat5}}"F5SW of Luther, Iowa to Jordan, Iowa to SW of Gilbert, Iowacat2}}"F2title=Iowa Event Report: F2 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10014926website=National Centers for Environmental Informationpublisher=National Weather Serviceaccess-date=7 April 2022}}0 (9 injuries)Tornadoes of 1976#June 13
cat3}}"F3title=Iowa Event Report: F3 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10014928website=National Centers for Environmental Informationpublisher=National Weather Serviceaccess-date=7 April 2022}}
cat4}}"F4Lemont, Illinois to S of Downers Grove, Illinoiscat1}}"F1url=https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/06/ct-wea-0606-featureSUN.jpgpublisher=WGN-TVtitle=A look back at the Lemont tornado of June 13, 1976date=5 June 2021 }}2 (23 injuries)
storm}}"F0S of Lemont, Illinois
March 13, 1990cat5}}"F5Castleton, Kansas to Hesston, Kansascat5}}"F5Goessel, Kansas to NE of Hillsboro, Kansas2March 1990 Central United States tornado outbreak
March 1, 1997cat2}}"F2S of College Station, Arkansascat2}}"F2S of College Station, Arkansas0March 1997 tornado outbreak
May 3, 1999cat5}}"F5SSW of Amber, Oklahoma to Moore, Oklahoma to W of Midwest City, Oklahomastorm}}"F0N of Newcastle, Oklahoma36 (583 injuries)1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado
April 20, 2004cat2}}"F2N of Utica, Illinois to Ottawa, Illinoisstorm}}"F0E of Utica, Illinois0Tornado outbreak of April 20, 2004
May 4, 2007cat5}}"EF5Greensburg, Kansas
storm}}"EF0last=Enquirerfirst=Cincinnatititle=Tornado on May. 05, 2007 23:00 PM CDTurl=https://data.cincinnati.com/tornado-archive/kansas/37297/access-date=2024-11-14website=Cincinnati Enquirerlanguage=en}}11 (63 injuries)2007 Greensburg tornado
storm}}"EF0Near Greensburg, Kansas
storm}}"EF0Near Greensburg, Kansas
cat1}}"EF1Near Greensburg, Kansas
cat1}}"EF1Near Greensburg, Kansas
storm}}"EF0NE of Greensburg, Kansas
storm}}"EF0N of Greensburg, Kansas
storm}}"EF0E of Greensburg, Kansas
cat1}}"EF1E of Greensburg, Kansas
storm}}"EF0E of Greensburg, Kansas
May 23, 2008cat2}}"EF2N of Laird, Kansascat2}}"EF2SE of Arnold, Kansas0Tornado outbreak sequence of May 22–31, 2008
May 10, 2010cat3}}"EF3SW of Wakita, Oklahoma to E of Hunnewell, Kansasstorm}}"EF0NW of Medford, Oklahoma0 (2 injuries)Tornado outbreak of May 10–13, 2010
June 17, 2010cat4}}"EF4E of Conger, Minnesota to W of Albert Lea, Minnesotacat1}}"EF1Armstrong, Minnesota1 (14 injuries)2010 Conger–Albert Lea tornado
April 9, 2011cat3}}"EF3W of Nemaha, Iowa to N of Ware, Iowacat2}}"EF2SE of Newell, Iowa0Tornado outbreak of April 9–11, 2011
cat4}}"EF4W of Pocahontas, Iowa
cat1}}"EF1NE of Varina, Iowa
cat1}}"EF1NE of Varina, Iowa
cat2}}"EF2WSW of Pocahontas, Iowa
May 24, 2011cat5}}"EF5ESE of Hinton to Piedmont to NE of Guthrie, Oklahomastorm}}"EF0NW of Richland, Oklahoma9 (181 injuries)2011 El Reno–Piedmont tornado
November 7, 2011cat4}}"EF4title=The Severe Weather Event of November 7-8, 2011url=https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-20111107access-date=8 November 2022publisher=National Weather Service}}storm}}"EF0S of Tipton, Oklahoma0Tornadoes of 2011#November 7–8
May 28, 2013cat3}}"EF3S of Centralia, Kansascat1}}"EF1W of Corning, Kansas0Tornado outbreak of May 26–31, 2013
May 31, 2013cat3}}"EF3work=National Weather Service Office in Norman, Oklahomapublisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationdate=May 31, 2013accessdate=June 7, 2013title=Central Oklahoma Tornadoes and Flash Flooding – May 31, 2013url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/?n=events-20130531}}cat2}}"EF2SE of El Reno, Oklahoma8 (151 injured)2013 El Reno tornado
April 9, 2015cat4}}"EF4NNE of Franklin Grove, Illinois to NNW of Kirkland, Illinoisstorm}}"EF0S of Belvidere, Illinois2 (11 injuries)2015 Rochelle–Fairdale tornado
April 27, 2016storm}}"EF0ESE of Bedford, Iowa to S of Conway, Iowastorm}}"EF0S of Conway, Iowa0List of United States tornadoes from April to May 2016
May 9, 2016cat1}}"EF1ENE of Wapanucka, Oklahoma to N of Atoka, Oklahomaunk}}"EFUENE of Wapanucka, Oklahoma0List of United States tornadoes from April to May 2016
May 9, 2016unk}}"EFUNW of Sawyer, Oklahoma to S of Spencerville, Oklahomaunk}}"EFUN of Sawyer, Oklahoma0List of United States tornadoes from April to May 2016
June 22, 2016cat1}}"EF1WNW of West Brooklyn, Illinois to NW of Compton, Illinoisstorm}}"EF0NE of West Brooklyn, Illinois0List of United States tornadoes from June to August 2016
June 6, 2018cat3}}"EF3N of Laramie, Wyomingcat2}}"EF2N of Laramie, Wyoming0Tornadoes of 2018#June 6–8
July 19, 2018cat3}}"EF3Eastern Pella, Iowastorm}}"EF0NE of Pella, Iowa0 (13 injuries)from June to July 2018
November 25, 2018cat2}}"F2Gulf of Taranto to Patù, Italy to Corsano, Italy to eastern Tricase, Italyunk}}"FUGulf of Taranto0Tornadoes of 2018#November 25 (Italy)
April 30, 2019cat2}}"EF2NW of Talala, Oklahomaunk}}"EFUW of Talala, Oklahoma0List of United States tornadoes in April 2019
September 10, 2019cat2}}"EF2department=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Cheyenne, Wyomingtitle=Wyoming Event Report: EF2 Tornadourl=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=854108publisher=National Centers for Environmental Informationyear=2019accessdate=January 18, 2020}}unk}}"EFUN of Fort Laramie, Wyoming to NE of Lingle, Wyoming0List of United States tornadoes from September to October 2019
March 13, 2021cat2}}"EF2department=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Amarillo, Texastitle=NWS Damage Survey for 3/13/21 Tornado Event Update #3url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSAMA&e=202103190225publisher=Iowa Environmental Mesonetdate=March 18, 2021access-date=March 18, 2021}}cat1}}"EF1N of Happy, Texas0March 2021 North American blizzard
April 27, 2021unk}}"EFUN of Haswell, Coloradounk}}"EFUNNE of Haswell, Colorado0List of United States tornadoes from April to June 2021
May 19, 2021storm}}"EF0NW of Medford, Minnesotastorm}}"EF0NW of Medford, Minnesota0List of United States tornadoes from April to June 2021
July 13, 2021cat2}}"EF2NE of Beachburg, Ontario to L'Île-du-Grand-Calumet, Quebeccat1}}"EF1Sullivan Island, Ontario to Butternut Island, Ontario0
September 29, 2021cat1}}"F1Kiel, Germany (Meimersdorf District)unk}}"FUKieler Förde, Germany0 (7 injured)Tornadoes of 2021#September 29 (Germany)
October 12, 2021cat1}}"EF1Clinton, Oklahoma to SSE of Custer City, Oklahomaunk}}"EFUNE of Clinton, Oklahoma0
December 11, 2021cat3}}"EF3SW of Bowling Green, Kentucky to S of Plum Springs, Kentucky to NNW of Rocky Hill, Kentuckycat2}}"EF2Southeastern Bowling Green, Kentucky to SE of Plum Springs, Kentucky16 (63 injuries)2021 Bowling Green tornadoes
March 5, 2022cat3}}"EF3author=NWS Des Moinesuser=NWSDesMoinestitle=Chariton/Red Haw State Park Tornado Peak Intensity: EF-3 (138 MPH) Path Length: 16.5 Miles 1 Injury, 1 Fatalitynumber=1500604091134713856}}Storm}}"EF0title=ArcGIS Web Applicationurl=https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/StormDamage/DamageViewer/website=apps.dat.noaa.govaccess-date=March 8, 2022}}1 (1 injured)Tornado outbreak of March 5–7, 2022
April 5, 2022cat2}}"EF2department=National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabamatitle=NWS Damage Survey for 04/05/22 Clarke County Tornado Eventurl=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSMOB&e=202204072358publisher=Iowa Environmental Mesonetdate=April 7, 2022accessdate=April 7, 2022}}cat1}}"EF1NNE Coffeeville, Alabama0Tornado outbreak of April 4–7, 2022
May 4, 2022cat2}}"EF2department=National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahomatitle=NWS Damage Survey for May 2 and May 4 Tornado Eventsurl=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSOUN&e=202205061905publisher=Iowa Environmental Mesonetdate=May 6, 2022accessdate=May 6, 2022}}Storm}}"EF0NE of Seminole, Oklahoma to ESE of Little, Oklahoma0Tornadoes of 2022#May 4–6 (Central and Eastern United States)
December 14, 2022cat2}}"EF2title=...NWS Damage Survey for 12/14/22 Tornado Event...Updateurl=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSLCH&e=202212282035website=Iowa Environmental Mesonetpublisher=National Weather Serviceaccess-date=29 December 2022}}unk}}"EFUSSW New Iberia, Louisiana0 (16 injuries)Tornado outbreak of December 12–15, 2022
June 28, 2023storm}}"EF0SW of Kimballunk}}"EFUSW of Kimball0
April 30, 2024cat1}}"EF1NE of Hollister, Oklahomacat1}}"EF1SW of Loveland, Oklahoma0Tornadoes of 2024#April 30 – May 4 (United States)
May 25, 2024cat3}}"EF3NE of Celina, Texascat1}}"EF1NNW of Celina, Texas to W of Weston, Texas{{cite weburl=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSFWD&e=202405300201date=27 May 2024
April 5, 2025cat1}}"EF1S of Curve, Tennessee to E of Gates, Tennesseestorm}}"EF0SE of Curve, Tennessee0Tornadoes of 2025
April 27, 2025cat2}}"EF2W of Merritt Reservoir, Nebraskacat2}}"EF2N of Merritt Reservoir0Tornadoes of 2025
May 19, 2025cat3}}"EF3E of Greensburg, Kansasunk}}"EFUS of Greensburg, Kansas0Tornado outbreak of May 18–20, 2025
cat3}}"EF3Brenham, Kansas to N of Haviland, Kansascat0}}"EF0N of Brenham, Kansas0
cat3}}"EF3N of Cullison, Kansas to NE of Iuka, Kansasunk}}"EFUN of Iuka, Kansas0

Notes

References

References

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