Does heavy rain affect tornadoes, positively/negatively, or no effect?

Answer 1

Tornadoes are often accompanied by heavy rain or by hail or both. They don't really have any effect on the potency of a tornado.

Usually, the tornado first forms a "wall cloud"...a lowering of the base of the cloud and this area is typically free of any rain. If you are in the right place you can see a "clear slot" where clear air is being drawn up into the cloud along a line of clouds that extend out from the area of the wall cloud. Usually there will be an area (here in Texas on the north side of the wall cloud) where there will be heavy rain and/or hail.

Often, there will be tornadoes that are wrapped in rain and you can't see them until the funnel is nearly on top of you.

It is my observation that rain neither helps or hinders the formation of a tornado.

I was a Storm Chaser for several years and took some basic classes from the National Weather Service in "Tornadology".

Answer 2

heavy rain doesnt effect a tornado per say bu it is a sighn that the storm has peeked and is on its way down. It means the updrafts are no longer strong enouph to keep the water stuck in the clouds and tornados need massive updrafts to be sustained. It isnt wat causes the tornado to disipate or go away but it is lets say a symptom that it is about to.

Answer 3

actually i don't think it really matters b/c usely when there is a tornado u have a warm front hitting a cool front causing the spinning motion.
the only way i see it having an affect is if the warm front hit the cool front that had some rain.
but i don't think rain really matters

Answer 4

im not sure, i doubt it