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31 May 2013 El Reno Tornadoes: Advantages of Rapid-Scan Phased-Array Radar Data from a Warning Forecaster's Perspective*.
- Source :
- Weather & Forecasting; Aug2015, Vol. 30 Issue 4, p933-956, 24p
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- On 31 May 2013, a supercell produced a tornado rated as 3 on the enhanced Fujita scale (EF3) near El Reno, Oklahoma, which was sampled by the S-band phased-array radar (PAR) at the National Weather Radar Testbed in Norman, Oklahoma. Collaboration with the forecaster who issued tornado warnings for the El Reno supercell during real-time operations focused the analysis on critical radar signatures frequently assessed during warning operations. The wealth of real-world experience provided by the forecaster, along with the quantitative analysis, highlighted differences between rapid-scan PAR data and the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler located near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (KTLX), within the context of forecast challenges faced on 31 May 2013. The comparison revealed that the 70-s PAR data proved most advantageous to the forecaster's situational awareness in instances of rapid storm organization, sudden mesocyclone intensification, and abrupt, short-term changes in tornado motion. Situations where PAR data were most advantageous in the depiction of storm-scale processes included 1) rapid variations in mesocyclone intensity and associated changes in inflow magnitude; 2) imminent radar-indicated development of the short-lived (EF0) Calumet, Oklahoma, and long-lived (EF3) El Reno tornadoes; and 3) precise location and motion of the tornado circulation. As a result, it is surmised that rapid-scan volumetric radar data in cases like this would augment a forecaster's ability to observe rapidly evolving storm features and deliver timely, life-saving information to the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- TORNADOES
RADAR
DATA analysis
VOLUMETRIC analysis
CLIMATE change
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 08828156
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Weather & Forecasting
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 108797900
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-14-00142.1