<p class="p1">As the mesocyclone <b>lowers below the cloud base</b>, it begins to take in cool, moist air from the downdraft region of the storm. This convergence of warm air in the updraft, and this cool air, causes a rotating wall cloud to form. The RFD also focuses the mesocyclone's base, causing it to siphon air from a smaller and smaller area on the ground. As the updraft intensifies, it creates an area of low pressure at the surface. This pulls the focused mesocyclone down, in the form of a visible condensation funnel. As the funnel descends, the RFD also reaches the ground, creating a gust front that can cause severe damage a good distance from the tornado. Usually, the funnel cloud begins causing damage on the ground (becoming a tornado) within a few minutes of the RFD<i> reaching the ground</i>.<cite class="squire-citation ltx_cite" data-bib-text="@article{26244881, 
  title = {A Statistical Model for Regional Tornado Climate Studies.}, 
  date = {2015}, 
  source = {PLoS One}, 
  authors = {Jagger, TH and Elsner, JB and Widen, HM}, 
  author = {Jagger, TH and Elsner, JB and Widen, HM}, 
  year = {2015}, 
  month = {null}, 
  journal = {PLoS One}, 
  volume = {10}, 
  number = {}, 
  pages = {e0131876}, 
  pubmed_id = {26244881}, 
  key = {26244881}, 
  bib_type = {@article}, 
}" data-bib-key="26244881" contenteditable="false" style="cursor: pointer">
        (<a class="ltx_ref au-cite-link" href="#26244881">Jagger_2015</a>)
    </cite><br></p><div><br></div>