Ultra-Rare Backward-Spinning Tornado Emerges from Supercell Thunderstorm

An extraordinarily rare backward-spinning tornado, accompanied by an unusual looping tornado, emerged from a powerful supercell thunderstorm over the Oklahoma-Texas border on April 30th. The backward twister appeared after the looping tornado, which itself traversed its own path, a highly uncommon occurrence. These tornadoes defy the typical eastward movement of storms in the U.S., resulting from strong easterly winds. Experts emphasize the rarity of these phenomena, with less than 1% of tornadoes exhibiting anticyclonic (backward-spinning) rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. While the tornadoes traveled primarily over farmland, causing no substantial damage or injuries, meteorologists note the impressive size and strength of the backward-spinning tornado, despite its rarity.

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