Tornadoes are the most intense storms on the planet, and they’re
never discussed without at least some mention of the term wind
shear. Many of us sitting at home, though, have no idea what
wind shear is, or if we do, how it affects tornado production.
What is Wind Shear Wind shear, although it might sound complex,
is a simple concept. Wind shear is merely the change in wind
with height, in terms of wind direction and speed. I think that
we all understand that the wind is generally stronger in the
atmosphere over our heads than it is here on the ground, and if
we think of the atmosphere in terms of the three dimensions that
it has, it should not be surprising that the wind above us might
also be blowing from a different direction than the wind at the
ground. When that happens–the wind speed and direction vary with
height–wind shear is occurring. Wind Shear and Supercell
Thunderstorms This wind shear is an important part of the
process in the development of a supercell thunderstorm, from
which the vast majority