The rear flank downdraft (RFD) is a region of dry air wrapping around the back of a mesocyclone in a supercell thunderstorm. [1] These areas of descending air are thought to be essential in the production of many supercellular tornadoes.

Rear flank downdraft (RFD) Studies indicate the RFD is a key component in the formation of tornadoes. The RFD develops as mid latitude wind from outside of the storm wrapping around the updraft and forced to the ground as a response to pressure patterns within the thunderstorm.

Nov 1, 2015 · Positions of the forward-flank gust front (FFGF), RFD gust front (RFDGF), and internal RFD surge gust front (IRFDGF) at the lowest grid level are subjectively analyzed based on the convergence and wind speed fields and annotated with thick stipled, solid, and dashed gray lines, respectively.

events in tornadogenesis were examined including the RFD surge, RFD occlusion, descending reflectivity core, cell merger, inflow channel and inflow connection.

the rear flank downdraft (RFD) surge and along the RFD surge boundary in the early, mature and dissipating stages of the Manchester tornado. At times, the leading part of the mesonet was within 1 – 1.5 km of the tornado. In addition, the mesonets collected data on 3 other surges from this storm as well as 2 additional mature RFDs. As will be

Following the RFD surge, the asymptotic contraction in the southern portion of the FFCB briefly intensified (Figure 5(c), x = −32, y = 27) creating a kinematic boundary that was straddled by moderate updraft and downdraft (Figure 5(d)).

Nov 1, 2012 · Research focus on the RFD has recently expanded into internal RFD kinematic and thermodynamic gradients, which sometimes manifest as an RFD internal surge (RFDIS). An RFDIS represents a distinct acceleration of the outflow within a previously established RFD.

Mar 14, 2023 · Using WSR-88D high-resolution radar, a rear-flank downdraft (RFD) surge and an RFD occlusion were identified just prior to high-end tornadogenesis for all 208 supercells. The RFD occlusion...

Aug 1, 2014 · Rapid evolution of the Dumas supercell was observed, including the development and decay of a low-level mesocyclone and four internal rear-flank downdraft (RFD) momentum surges.

RFD winds hit the ground and spread out along the surface. Storm chasers look for this signature, which manifests as a horse shoe shaped cloud, as a precursor to tornado formation in supercell thunderstorms.