Hidden within the chaos of a powerful storm, tiny spinning forces known as mesovortices can add another layer to the destructive weather already playing out.

A mesovortex is a small, intense whirl of rotating air that can form within larger storm systems, such as squall lines, supercells or even the eyewall of a hurricane.

Though much smaller than tornadoes or the overall storm they're part of, mesovortices can still pack a serious punch, sometimes producing damaging winds, brief tornadoes or sudden wind direction changes.

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In hurricanes, mesovortices often form in the eyewall, the ring of intense thunderstorms surrounding the calm eye. These tiny spinning features can cause localized bursts of extreme wind, sometimes contributing to tornadic activity or structural damage.

While mesovortices are short-lived and relatively small, they’re a reminder of how complex and dangerous severe storms can be.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.