Rear-flank downdraft dynamics in tornadic and non-tornadic supercell thunderstorms

The role of the rear-flank downdraft on the organization and intensification of a low-level mesocyclone in a tornadic supercell has been studied using dual-Doppler data that extends for more than 50 minutes. Combined with observations from VORTEX2, we will document the influence of surges in the rear-flank downdraft on the evolution of low-level mesocyclones and compare tornadic to non-tornadic storms observed during VORTEX2.