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2014 Short Term Severe Weather Disco


Chicago Storm

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Moderate risk considered in the latest D1, may include one later for winds. Looks like central/eastern NE might be in for another hit.

 

...CENTRAL PLAINS...
CONSIDERED PROBABILITY AND CATEGORICAL UPGRADES TO SUPPORT A MDT
RISK FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS OVER PARTS OF NEB/MO/IA.
HOWEVER...EARLY AFTERNOON TOPEKA AND OMAHA RAOBS SUGGEST THAT
MOISTURE AND/OR CAPPING WILL CONTINUE TO POSE A CHALLENGE FOR MORE
INTENSE CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT...AT LEAST IN THE SHORT-TERM.
ADDITIONALLY...THERE APPEAR TO BE A VARIETY OF SCENARIOS IN TERMS OF
STORM EVOLUTION ACROSS THE NEB/KS AREAS THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON THAT
INTRODUCE GREATER UNCERTAINTY. STORMS MAY EVOLVE FROM AT LEAST TWO
DIFFERENT MECHANISMS THIS AFTERNOON. 1) ACTIVITY INCREASING ALONG
RESIDUAL FRONTAL SEGMENT ACROSS WRN CO AND WRN KS MAY GROW UPSCALE
AND POSE WIND AND LARGE HAIL HAZARDS EAST ACROSS KS/SRN NEB. 2)
SHORTWAVE TROUGH DIGGING SEWD ACROSS SD MAY SUSTAIN CONVECTIVE
CLUSTER RECENTLY INTENSIFYING ACROSS SOUTHWEST SD. THIS CONVECTION
MAY DEVELOP INTO A RECOVERING AIRMASS ACROSS NEB INTO LATE AFTERNOON
WITH INCREASINGLY STRONG MID-LEVEL WEST-NORTHWESTERLY FLOW
CONTRIBUTING TO A FORWARD-PROPAGATING MCS WITH WIND AND HAIL
POTENTIAL INTO EASTERN NEB/SOUTHERN IA AND NORTHERN MO INTO THE LATE
EVENING. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A COMBINATION OF SCENARIOS 1 AND 2
RESULT IN HIGHER-END DAMAGING WIND THREAT ACROSS PARTS OF THE MO
RIVER VALLEY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. IF THE GREATER POTENTIAL FOR
WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS BECOME MORE OBVIOUS WITH TIME...IT REMAINS
POSSIBLE THAT A MDT RISK WILL BE ISSUED GIVEN MAGNITUDE OF
INSTABILITY AND DEVELOPING SHEAR EXPECTED ACROSS NEB/IA/MO AREAS
THROUGH TONIGHT.
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Moderate risk considered in the latest D1, may include one later for winds. Looks like central/eastern NE might be in for another hit.

 

It's uncanny how certain hotspots will emerge any given year and keep taking the brunt of the action time and time again. Granted, part of it is simply that the pattern got "hot" right around the climatological peak for NE/IA (mid-late June).

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They have forgotten how to forecast without hi-res models. When the models choke, so does SPC.

 

That's a ridiculous claim, in light of the past few weeks as a whole. During the big outbreak sequence from June 16-18, the hi-res models "choked" almost from start to finish. Yet, SPC did pretty well on each of those days. How about on June 16, when they issued a PDS Tornado Watch for E NE, and virtually none of the hi-res models initiated storms anywhere near the place/time of the Stanton/Pilger/Wisner activity?

 

I've seen no indication that over-reliance on hi-res models is an issue within the NWS, at least on a widespread basis. In the case of this past weekend, I would say the ingredients and synoptic pattern (i.e., strongly veered surface flow) were an outlier among environments producing substantial tornadoes in that region. Hi-res models had little to do with it. Whether a watch should have been issued more quickly once tornadoes developed is at least a legitimate discussion to have, but you're jumping to unreasonable conclusions.

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Once again, a threat for severe storms in central Nebraska and central Kansas. There are currently some hail-bearing supercells in Nebraska (GRLevel3 hail estimation says 3.75" hail on one storm, Loup City Nebraska)

 

New watch issued for high plains

-----   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 408   445 PM MDT WED JUL 9 2014   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A   * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF      NORTHEAST COLORADO     NORTHWEST KANSAS     WESTERN...CENTRAL...AND NORTHERN NEBRASKA

---

 

Here's the storm I was talking about -- about maxed out on reflectivity and VIL, probably 2-3" hail, some low-altitude rotation

 

post-1182-0-72763600-1404947155_thumb.jp

 

 

 

 

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Yes I believe they did an excellent job middle to late June. SPC made some great catches. June 16 SPC issued excellent non-model based discussions, using fundamentals. However the season as a whole, including a late May and early June slump, has shown too much reliance on high-res models.

 

That's a ridiculous claim, in light of the past few weeks as a whole. During the big outbreak sequence from June 16-18, the hi-res models "choked" almost from start to finish. Yet, SPC did pretty well on each of those days. How about on June 16, when they issued a PDS Tornado Watch for E NE, and virtually none of the hi-res models initiated storms anywhere near the place/time of the Stanton/Pilger/Wisner activity?

 

I've seen no indication that over-reliance on hi-res models is an issue within the NWS, at least on a widespread basis. In the case of this past weekend, I would say the ingredients and synoptic pattern (i.e., strongly veered surface flow) were an outlier among environments producing substantial tornadoes in that region. Hi-res models had little to do with it. Whether a watch should have been issued more quickly once tornadoes developed is at least a legitimate discussion to have, but you're jumping to unreasonable conclusions.

 

I'm not an NWS basher. I'm a fan and believe the warning system saves countless lives. Just making an observation, and offering a chance to learn, during this squirrelly 2014 severe season.

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  • 2 weeks later...

No excitement over the Day 2 moderate? Looks like a very unstable air-mass with decent speed shear. Models showing a heck of a lot of directional shear along the warm front in SE North Dakota early Monday evening.

some of the hesitance, imho, might be because of the big lid between all that low level moisture and the extreme instability (3500+ j/kg, li's near -8, TT near 55) shown on the NAM and GFS. the Canadian Regional also is showing more than a bit of hesitance in trying to tap all that instability.

 

but that being said, shrink/weaken that lid, given everything else available, and moderate risk might be the least of our worries in MN/WI/e ND/e SD. would like to see the soundings at 12 and 18Z tomorrow as well as 00Z Tuesday in ABR, MPX, BIS, and INL to see what we'll be dealing with in the lid.

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As was mentioned in the Lakes/Ohio Valley Subforum, The GFS had 85 dew points predicted in Iowa, back a few days ago, (valid for tomorrow.) I posted a ridiculous 9000 J/kg forecast sounding (from the Dupage web site). Now it looks fairly accurate to say that Sioux City/Sioux Falls should have 7000-8000 J/kg CAPE later tomorrow, with dew points around 77. I think the moderate risk may be overdone, despite the huge cape and 40 kts of 0-6km shear in South Dakota. I am always wary of the times when the models forecast huge CAPE. The NAM/SREF suggest several thunderstorms initiating in eastern North Dakota, continuing to Minnesota.

 

post-1182-0-85645200-1405886418_thumb.gi

 

 

 

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As was mentioned in the Lakes/Ohio Valley Subforum, The GFS had 85 dew points predicted in Iowa, back a few days ago, (valid for tomorrow.) I posted a ridiculous 9000 J/kg forecast sounding (from the Dupage web site). Now it looks fairly accurate to say that Sioux City/Sioux Falls should have 7000-8000 J/kg CAPE later tomorrow, with dew points around 77. I think the moderate risk may be overdone, despite the huge cape and 40 kts of 0-6km shear in South Dakota. I am always wary of the times when the models forecast huge CAPE. The NAM/SREF suggest several thunderstorms initiating in eastern North Dakota, continuing to Minnesota.

 

The moderate risk isn't focused in SD tomorrow, for starters. SPC is definitely aware of models overestimating dewpoints. There will still be >3000 J/kg CAPE in the warm sector tomorrow, which is more than enough for a higher end MCS especially if a cold pool develops. The NAM, as I've said many times this Spring/Summer, has been terrible at convective forecasting (and generally everything else).

 

With regards to capping, SPC must be at least reasonably confident in it breaking if they are issuing a D2 moderate, which are rather rare in July. It really doesn't look that strong in most of the forecast soundings I looked at.

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anyone know if the TTAA's and PPBB's are out yet for INL? EC-Ontario just put up a tornado watch from the Lake of the Woods and Red Lake to Lake Nipigon, not quite including T-bay or Superior-West. And with it being the time for the soundings, they must have seen something in the 00Z that caused them to put up a Tornado watch now, especially since Downsview is quite tight in putting out tornado watches in general.

 

edited lines below

 

well, now I know why. courtesy the University of Wyoming, here's this evening's sounding from 72747/INL.

 

http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/bimages/2014072100.72747.skewt.parc.gif

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Concerning Monday 7/21/2014. Looking at the forecast sounding for tomorrow night for MSP I see a nice temp inversion from H85 to H8 and temps at 700mb at or very close to 14° C.  This could be hard to break.  Best guess at this time is that the severe threat should be north of the TC metro and affect the area north of a line from Montevideo to St Cloud to far Nw WI.  I'm getting somewhat concerned about the BWCA area.  Of course this is based off the NAM 0z/07/21 run.

 

00_NAM_027_44.93,-93.12_skewt_ML.gif

 

Here is the 12° C line at the same time.

 

namCGP_700_temp_027.gif

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the trend continues for capping issues in southern MN on the 06z nam. but further north, esp north of St Cloud, Aberdeen, and the twin cities. but that being said, if you could bust the lids, according to the soundings, you're pretty much expecting anything and everything just from the pure energy available.

 

i'll post a few of the soundings for perspective.

 

BIS at 4pm

post-2758-0-68567500-1405938591_thumb.gi

 

GFK at 6pm

 

post-2758-0-21945900-1405938595_thumb.gi

 

AXN at 7pm

 

post-2758-0-86537600-1405938589_thumb.gi

 

FAR at 7pm

 

post-2758-0-60676200-1405938593_thumb.gi

 

INL at 7pm

 

post-2758-0-86291000-1405938596_thumb.gi

 

STC at 7pm

 

post-2758-0-08424800-1405938602_thumb.gi

 

RWF at 7pm

 

post-2758-0-04871900-1405938600_thumb.gi

 

and the twin cities/MSP at 7pm

 

post-2758-0-44647000-1405938598_thumb.gi

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Saw the northward shift in the mod risk coming yesterday.  Even yesterday's 12z runs gave a clue about it so I'm not sure why spc had the mod risk so far south to begin with.

 

I'm with you. I didn't look at the 12Z closely, but by the 18Z runs the threat was definitely more north and west. Obviously the SPC wouldn't have had time to use that run in its decision making process. Right now though the moderate risk area matches up pretty well with the storm scale modeling. The 4km NAM nest is showing a few discrete UH tracks whereas the HRW flavors are showing UH tracks for MCVs only. The MCS and associated wind appears to be the dominant threat from all three. The updraft velocity products from the HRW flavors are showing a pretty potent MCS.

 

TmZj1KS.gif

LO5mBF0.gif

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The 15z HRRR starts out some storms in southwest ND, and continues that group towards the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

 

edit:

 

and the tornado watch is already up, with a few storms in southwest North Dakota

 

--

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 426

 

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

 

110 PM CDT MON JUL 21 2014

 

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA

 

DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS ARE INTENSIFYING OVER WESTERN ND. THIS ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND BUILD EASTWARD ...




			
		
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That cluster organizing near Dickinson has significant I-94 MCS written all over it.

 

Mid 70s dewpoints with extreme instability (4000-5000 J/kg MLCAPE, >5000 J/kg MUCAPE) out ahead of it with large DCAPE values >1000 J/kg, steep mid level lapse rates of 8-9˚C/km and CB sig svr up to 100 in eastern ND per mesoanalysis. There appears to be a s/w trough advancing eastward from MT/WY that should enhance deep layer shear somewhat as well. Backing surface winds might enhance the tornado potential.

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Right on cue...

 

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 1420
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0320 PM CDT MON JUL 21 2014

AREAS AFFECTED...PORTIONS OF ND

CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 426...

VALID 212020Z - 212115Z

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR TORNADO WATCH 426 CONTINUES.

SUMMARY...LARGE HAIL/SOME TORNADO RISK IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS
AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD/INTENSE DAMAGING
WINDS IS OTHERWISE EXPECTED TO STEADILY INCREASE THROUGH LATE
AFTERNOON ACROSS ND. TORNADO WATCH 426 CONTINUES UNTIL 00Z.

DISCUSSION...EARLIER SEMI-DISCRETE STORMS ACROSS WEST/SOUTHWEST ND
HAVE QUICKLY CONGEALED INTO A LOOSELY ORGANIZED LINEAR COMPLEX AS OF
20Z...WITH A SOUTH-END SUPERCELL NOTED TO BE NEARING THE I-94
VICINITY AROUND/JUST EAST OF DICKINSON. A LARGE HAIL/TORNADO RISK IS
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM...AND/OR OTHER GRADUALLY INCREASING
DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL ND...ESPECIALLY IN VICINITY OF A
SURFACE BOUNDARY THAT ANGLES GENERALLY SOUTHWEST-NORTHEAST ACROSS
ND.

HOWEVER...THE DEVELOPMENT/MATURATION OF A SPATIALLY EXPANDING
QUASI-LINEAR MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM WILL LIKELY BE THE
PREVALENT SCENARIO. AS THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO GROW UPSCALE AND
ACCELERATE EAST-NORTHEASTWARD...WIDESPREAD/POTENTIALLY INTENSE
DAMAGING WINDS SHOULD BECOME AN INCREASING CONCERN BY LATE AFTERNOON
ACROSS CENTRAL ND. THIS MCS WILL THRIVE WITHIN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
IS CHARACTERIZED BY STRONG TO EXTREME INSTABILITY...WITH 18Z
OBSERVED REGIONAL SOUNDINGS/SPC OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS SUPPORTIVE OF
2500-5000 J/KG MLCAPE ACROSS CENTRAL/EASTERN ND.

..GUYER.. 07/21/2014
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18Z special sounding from BIS is showing plenty of instability, but the wind shear is on the lower end of the severe thresholds. I'm sure wind fields will increase throughout the evening though. And, of course, there is more instability the further east you go from BIS.
 
BIS.gif

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18Z special sounding from BIS is showing plenty of instability, but the wind shear is on the lower end of the severe thresholds. I'm sure wind fields will increase throughout the evening though. And, of course, there is more instability the further east you go from BIS.

 

BIS.gif

 

yea, shear is marginal. but with that much cape in the parcel, that alone can take what shear is available and turn it into major problems.

 

and with the lids as they appear on the full set of 18z supplemental soundings (BIS, INL, ABR, and MPX), they pretty much are going with what some in here pictured yesterday as well as most of the models, with the weaker lid near/north of STC/DIK than to the south.

 

that being said, if you can break the lid down here in the twin cities or in the US 212 corridor, we are screwed.

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Going strong now moving east at 45-50 mph, have some impressive velocities aloft from Bismarck (70-80+ kts) and also several 70+ mph wind reports in the past couple hours.

 

Seeing some upper 70s, even 80 degree dewpoints in E ND and NE SD per latest obs. DCAPE has increased into the 1300-1500 J/kg range ahead of it, in addition to SB/MLCAPE hovering at 4500-6500 J/kg.

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