Weather Dictionary / Glossary of Terms

Rear Flank Downdraft


   Weather TermDescription / Definition
   Rear Flank Downdraft A region of dry air subsiding on the back side of, and wrapping around, a mesocyclone. It often is visible as a clear slot wrapping around the wall cloud. Scattered large precipitation particles (rain and hail) at the interface between the clear slot and wall cloud may show up on radar as a hook or pendant; thus the presence of a hook or pendant may indicate the presence of an RFD.


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Data courtesy of NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration