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Total Lightning Observations of Supercells over North Central Texas

Total Lightning Observations of Supercells over North Central Texas. Chris McKinney Larry Carey, Greg Patrick, Richard Orville. Goals. Evaluate visual signatures of supercell intensity/severity, structure, and movement in total lightning data used at WFO FWD

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Total Lightning Observations of Supercells over North Central Texas

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  1. Total Lightning Observations of Supercells over North Central Texas Chris McKinney Larry Carey, Greg Patrick, Richard Orville

  2. Goals • Evaluate visual signatures of supercell intensity/severity, structure, and movement in total lightning data used at WFO FWD • emphasis on Flash Extent Density (FED) • Compare trends in FED to those in VHF total flash rate, a previously researched quantity • Compare total lightning displays to structure and intensity data from Doppler weather radar • radar reflectivity and velocity

  3. D/FW LDAR-II Network • Nine sensor VHF network owned by Vaisala • Seven sensors operational during dates in this study Adapted from Patrick and Demetriades (2005)

  4. Flash Extent Density • Gridded measure of VHF flash detection • 2 km x 2 km grid • display is number of individual flashes passing through each grid box

  5. 25 April 2005 • Two tornadic supercells over the southern half of the DFW metroplex • Five tornadoes reported, as well as numerous severe hail reports

  6. Lightning Hole

  7. Second Lightning Hole • Another lightning hole occurs with same cell at 2234 UTC • FED imagery “fills in” the lightning hole compared to GSD CW from top left: 6-9km GSD, 9-12km GSD, 12-15km GSD, and FED (0-20km)

  8. 05 April 2005 • Linear MCS moves across D/FW network • Left moving supercell located within the line moves across central Dallas County Time series of 0.5° reflectivity from KFWS WSR-88D, 2309 - 2339 UTC

  9. FED Appendages

  10. 13 April 2007 • Linear MCS with an embedded supercell moved across North Texas • Three tornadoes reported in Tarrant/Dallas counties, including EF-1 tornado in Haltom City

  11. FED Rear Notch 2326 UTC 13 April 2007 2354 UTC 13 April 2007

  12. Updraft Notch

  13. FED Rear Notch • KFWS images from 0001 UTC on April 6, 2005 • bowing reflectivity on 2.4° • outbound velocities 50-70kts • 50kt wind gust recorded near Allen, TX at 0015 UTC • top: 1.5º Z/V bottom: 2.4º Z/V

  14. FED Jumps

  15. Conclusions • FED displays important features of storm structure and evolution • updraft intensity, location and propagation • Identification of these features similar to early weather radar research (i.e., hook echoes) • LDAR data coverage aids in situations where radar cannot scan effectively • cone of silence • radar inoperative

  16. Conclusions • Trends in FED time series show some positive correlation to total flash rate • More work is needed to evaluate what is a significant “jump” in FED data

  17. Questions?

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