The Supercell Storm

Ever since I was a kid, I have been transfixed by storms. There is something fascinating about them. The power they wield. The striking features they display. Their massive reach. Storms produce some of the most awe-inspiring events in our world.

The obvious downfall to storms is the horrific damage they leave in their wake. The deaths they have brought. The injuries they have caused. The damages they have formed. Of all the storms out there, there is one that stands above the rest. It is known as the supercell.

• In Nebraska in 1990, a supercell caused seven tornadoes to touch down in a single night.
• In Oklahoma City in 1999, a supercell produced a tornado which brought one of the highest wind speeds ever recorded: 302 mph.
• In New South Wales in 1999, a supercell dropped 500,000 tons of hail, causing a devastating $2.3 billion in damages.
• In Mumbai, India in 2005, a supercell produced 37.2 inches of rain; 28 inches fell in just four hours.
• In Belgium in 2009, a supercell produced 30,000 flashes of lightning in just 2 hours.
• In several places in tornado alley, supercells have brought EF5 tornadoes. The devastating Moore, Oklahoma EF5 tornado back in 2013 came from a supercell.
• In addition to these events, supercells have been known to produce tennis ball size hail, and cause flash floods and mudslides.

There is no doubt about it; supercells are scary. While they are an incredible sight to behold, it’s too bad they are so destructive. It’s always a tragedy when storms like these touch the lives and possessions of people.

While they can be devastating, perhaps they are also reminders that we live in a passing world, with perishable possessions, and in temporary bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). This world is not our eternal destination (Matthew 25:31-46). Whether physically or spiritually, when the storms of life come, let’s make sure that we have our true treasures laid up in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Let’s not cling with white knuckles to this life, because no human grasp can escape the coming end and Judgment Day (2 Corinthians 5:10). No matter what storms we face, let’s remain steadfast and immovable in our hope and trust in the Lord, because not even the greatest supercell storm can take away our relationship with Him.