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 appeared capable of tornadogenesis, yet did not produce a tornado. Such novel observations of what is considered ``tornadogenesis failure'' are documented and used to show the insufficiency of a low-level mesocyclone for tornadogenesis. Possible modes of failure are discussed.