Multiple-vortex tornado

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A multiple-vortex tornado (often shortened to multi-vortex tornado) is a tornado that contains several vortices (called subvortices or suction vortices) revolving around, inside of, and as part of the main vortex. The only times multiple vortices may be visible are when the tornado is first forming or when condensation and debris are balanced such that subvortices are apparent without being obscured. They can add over 100 mph (160 km/h) to the ground-relative wind in a tornado circulation and are responsible for most cases where narrow arcs of extreme destruction lie right next to weak damage within tornado paths.^[1]

Suction vortices, also known as suction spots, are substructures found in many tornadoes, though they are not always easily visible. These vortices typically occur at the base of the tornado, where it makes contact with the ground. Sub-vortices tend to form after vortex breakdown reaches the surface, resulting from the interaction of cyclonically incoming and rising air. Although multi-vortex structures are common in tornadoes, they are not unique to them and can occur in other circulations, such as dust devils. This is a natural result of vortex dynamics in physics. Multi-vortex tornadoes should not be confused with cyclically tornadic supercells. Supercells are large, rotating thunderstorms that can produce multiple, distinct tornadoes, often referred to as tornado families. These tornadoes may form at different times or exist simultaneously but are separate from one another.^{[citation needed]}

A phenomenon similar to multiple vortices is the satellite tornado. Unlike the multiple-vortex tornado, where smaller vortices form inside the main tornado, a satellite tornado develops outside the main tornado's circulation. It forms through a different mechanism, typically as a result of interactions with the parent storm's environment. Despite appearing close to the primary tornado, satellite tornadoes are independent and can have their own rotation.^[1]

In rare instances, multi-vortex tornadoes may display their strength through the uncommon method of "horizontal vortices", in which tornadoes appearing to "bend" their multiple interior vortices; this results in a tornado appearing to radiate thin lines. Examples of tornadoes featuring horizontal vortices include the 2011 Tuscaloosa-Birmingham EF4 and 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore F5 tornadoes.

Symmetric or organized multi-vortex tornadoes are a class of tornadoes characterized by multiple sub-vortices (a smaller, intense vortex that rotates within a larger tornado or storm circulation) that rotate around a common center with a relatively constant angular velocity. These sub-vortices, typically produce a larger amount of circulation, produce distinctive and often highly regular "ground-damage patterns" marked by "alternating zones of convergent and divergent debris deposition." Such tornado structures are most commonly observed at moderate to high swirl ratios, a regime in which vortex breakdown has stabilized and the flow organizes into a persistent set of secondary vortices rather than a single, unstable core.

Asymmetrical or irregular multi-vortex tornadoes are characterized by rapidly shifting its vortex patterns in which two, three, or in some cases, four sub-vortices can form, merge, or dissipate in a quick progression. These individual vortices differ in both size and rotational speed, creating a highly dynamic and unpredictable structure. As a result, the tornado’s damage path often shows strong asymmetry, with irregular swaths of destruction that reflect the uneven intensity and movement of the sub-vortices.

The largest tornado ever documented was a multiple-vortex tornado. It struck El Reno, Oklahoma, on May 31, 2013, as a rain-wrapped tornado, killing tornado researcher Tim Samaras, his son Paul, their TWISTEX colleague Carl Young, and local amateur storm chaser Richard Henderson.^[2] It had a maximum width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km) and a maximum recorded windspeed of at least 313 miles per hour (504 km/h). However, because of a lack of intense property damage, the tornado achieved a rating of EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.^[3] Nevertheless, the El Reno tornado is one of the three strongest tornadoes ever recorded in terms of maximum wind speeds, the next being the 2024 Greenfield EF4 tornado, reaching a measured windspeed of possibly up to 318 miles per hour (512 km/h), the last being the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado which doppler weather radar measured 321 miles per hour (517 km/h) mph. The Greenfield tornado also displayed multiple vortices.

The 1997 Jarrell tornado was another example of a multiple-vortex tornado. The infamous “Dead Man Walking” photo of it was at a juvenile stage of sub-vortices development. The 2011 Cullman–Arab tornado is also famous for footage of it "walking" while in its multi-vortex stage, as well as the 2013 El Reno tornado, which also had footage of it "walking" while multi-vortex.

• Tornadogenesis

• Multiple Vortex Tornado at the Online Tornado FAQ