How a sting jet forms

1 Strong wind flows, called conveyor belts, form ahead of warm and cold fronts

2 The cold conveyor belt brings cold, moist air towards the centre of the cyclone

3 Cool, dry air flows into the cyclone behind the cold front forming a dry intrusion

4 Rain and snow from the cold conveyor belt evaporates as it falls into the dry intrusion, further cooling the air

5 Denser than the surrounding air, the cooled air descends rapidly through the already intense cyclone, reaching the surface as a powerful and damaging sting jet

1 Strong wind flows, called conveyor belts, form ahead of warm and cold fronts

2 The cold conveyor belt brings cold, moist air towards the centre of the cyclone

3 Cool, dry air flows into the cyclone behind the cold front forming a dry intrusion

4 Rain and snow from the cold conveyor belt evaporates as it falls into the dry intrusion, further cooling the air

5 Denser than the surrounding air, the cooled air descends rapidly through the already intense cyclone, reaching the surface as a powerful and damaging sting jet