Supercells are basically thunderstorms on steroids. These storms create some of the most violent tornadoes and can leave a path of incredible destruction.

A supercell is a powerful, long-lived thunderstorm characterized by a rotating updraft, called a mesocyclone. This rotation allows for these monster storms to live on for sometimes hours at a time. Unlike ordinary thunderstorms that can be short-lived and disorganized, supercells have a well-defined structure that allows them to persist for much longer.

This rotation gives the storm its strength and organization, allowing it to produce extreme weather, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.

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Supercells are responsible for some of the most intense and memorable severe weather events. They form when strong wind shear (changes in wind speed or direction with height) interacts with instability in the atmosphere. While supercells are most common in the central portion of the U.S., they can also occur in other parts of the country.

Meteorologists study supercells closely, not only because of their destructive potential but also because understanding their structure helps improve tornado warnings and severe weather forecasts.

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.