Oldest Historic Account of a Supercell Storm ?
Approximately 2500 years ago the biblical prophet Ezekiel wrote an account which I think contains some details that are now only understood in light of modern meteorology. Though he was certainly describing more than a natural storm in the text, he wrote about a great cloud and “a whirlwind coming out of the north.”
Ezekiel Chapter 1, verse 4 reads, “And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire (KJV).” Another translation states, “As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire (NASB).” There are four things in this passage typical of a supercell (mesocyclone) thunderstorm:
1. A large storm cloud/whirlwind. The Hebrew word translated “whirlwind” also means an unusual type of storm. In the Greek Septuagint translations it speaks of a “mega” storm and “winds lifting up.”
2. Continuous lightning, typical of a mesocyclone having “fire flashing forth continually.”
3. Updraft and/or rotation. The updraft portion of a supercell has the appearance of clouds rolling into the larger storm–a “great cloud, and a fire infolding itself.” Also, the Hebrew word means something like “catching itself around” or “in a circle.” It could also be referring to its cloud rotation base.
4. The rainbow (verse 28)
Article by Tom Windsor
(also posted on Stormtrack website)
