A hook echo is a specific radar signature that meteorologists observe in Doppler radar data, particularly when monitoring severe thunderstorms. It appears as a pattern that resembles a hook or a "C" shape on weather radar displays. The hook echo is commonly associated with the presence of a mesocyclone, which is a rotating updraft within a supercell thunderstorm. The formation of a hook echo typically indicates that there is a possible tornado on the ground or that conditions are favorable for tornado development.
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