A supercell thunderstorm loomed over York County Tuesday, impressively captured in a dramatic drone photo by Kari Smith.

Supercells are the powerhouses of thunderstorms, they are capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and long track tornadoes. What makes a supercell so special?

A supercell thunderstorm loomed over York County Tuesday, impressively captured in a dramatic drone photo by Kari Smith.

North Texas typically experiences "supercell" thunderstorms in the spring with the summer seeing more "airmass" thunderstorms. How are the different?

What is a supercell? Everything you need to know about a supercell. These types of thunderstorms are notable for spawning some of the most severe weather.

Most intense tornadoes are found in supercells The same rotation responsible for the supercell’s structure and the creation of giant hail also plays into the formation of intense tornadoes.

Tornadoes that are produced from supercell thunderstorms are the most common and usually the most dangerous tornadoes, according to NOAA.

This rotation is derived from shear in the environmental wind field (that is, a change in wind direction and / or speed with height) surrounding the storm as it begins to grow.

A supercell has a mesocyclone -- a wide, continuously rotating updraft of air. That rotation starts as a horizontal vortex in the air caused by the wind shear.