Origin of the hook-like feature in Himawari-9 imagery of the Candating tornadic supercell

Determine whether the hook-like feature observed on the forward flank of the 27 May 2024 Candating, Arayat tornadic supercell in HIMAWARI-9 AHI 10.4 μm satellite imagery corresponds to a radar hook-echo signature or instead originates from auxiliary convective cell interactions that nudged and fed the main supercell.

Background

During the 27 May 2024 event, the authors identified a hook-like feature in the forward flank of the tornadic supercell in Himawari-9 10.4 μm brightness temperature imagery, coincident with an overshooting top above the anvil.

They hypothesize that nearby auxiliary cell interactions may have contributed to this signature, but explicitly state uncertainty about whether the feature relates to a classic radar hook echo, motivating clarification of its physical origin through coordinated satellite–radar analysis.