Observations of nontornadic low-level mesocyclones and attendant tornadogenesis failure during VORTEX

Three storms intercepted during the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment generated a moderate-to-strong mesocyclone within the lowest several hundred meters above the ground and qualitatively appear ed capable of tornadogenesis, yet did ndt produce a tornado. Such novel obs ervations of what is considered "tornadogenesis failure" are documented and used to show the insufficiency of a low-level mesocyclone for tornadogenes is. Possible modes of failure are discussed.