These are causative factors of supercell updraft rotation. We must caution that vertical wind profiles are subject to rapid space and time changes, and better observation systems such as profilers will be important in improving practical storm-type forecasting. Also, these specific wind profiles are not the only arrangements that can occur with the different storm types. For instance, supercell surface winds may be easterly, with 5,000 foot winds southerly, and so on. This diagram summarizes the combined effects of draft strength and vertical shear strength on storm type.
Stronger shears lead to longer storm life cycles, and repeated severe episodes.
Note that supercells combine the strongest shears with the greatest instabilities. It is important to know that storm-relative winds are critical rather than absolute winds. Therefore, one must figure storm motion into the complex relationships concerning thunderstorm and vertical wind shear interactions. We may think of this diagram as another form of the thunderstorm spectrum . In this case, the effects of ambient atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics on storm type are included.