Mesoscale Convective Vortex
A mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) is a low-pressure center within an mesoscale convective system
(MCS) that pulls winds into a circling pattern, or vortex. With a core
only 30 to 60 miles wide and 1 to 3 miles deep, an MCV is often
overlooked in standard weather analysis. But an MCV can take on a life
of its own, persisting for up to 12 hours after its parent MCS has
dissipated. This orphaned MCV will sometimes then become the seed of
the next thunderstorm outbreak. An MCV that moves into tropical waters,
such as the Gulf of Mexico, can serve as the nucleus for a tropical
storm or hurricane.
On May 8, 2009 a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) formed and moved across southern Kentucky.