Abstract The behavior of leading and trailing arc root dimensions and arc interaction in the two-wire tandem submerged arc welding process was studied using real-time recorded current and voltage waveforms, and CCD arc images for a wide range of experimental conditions. Physical and regression equations were developed to predict the arc interaction and dimensions as a function of the welding condition. The influence of the arc interaction on the molten droplet transfer direction was studied. The arc center displacements (arc interaction) under different welding conditions were fairly well predicted by the corresponding physical models. The arc root dimensions were unsymmetrical and increased with an increase in the welding current and voltage while the same decreased with the increase in the arc center displacements. This variation was reasonably envisaged by the developed regression models. The detached molten electrode droplet followed the arc axis at the time of detachment and deposited into the weld pool.