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View Full Version : Severe Weather Outlook, April 5th 2005


CalUWxBill
04-04-2005, 09:32 PM
We had to do this for our Synoptic Met II class, I figured I'd post it here. I may have needed to extend more severe weather into east Texas, but here it is.

Convective Outlook Days 1 and 2 - Effective 8Z 5 April 2005
Day 1 12Z 5 April 2005 to 12Z 5 April 2005
Day 2 12Z 6 April 2005 to 12Z 7 April 2005

Current Synoptic Setup:
Polar front jet shows distinct trough-ridge-trough pattern which is split from the zonal flow of the sub-tropical jet that now stretches from the central Baja California through Mexico and across the southern gulf states. Deepening negatively tilted trough exists across the Intermountain West with vortmax centered over southeast Nevada and western Arizona, this vortmax is southeast of another potent shortwave in Oregon that is set to phase up with it. Strong trough entry jet max should allow the trough to rapidly deepen and close off with time. The positive vorticity advection associated with this fast moving and developing trough should allow for the development of lee cyclogenesis lee of the Rocky Mountains and setup a common Colorado type low that will enter the Plains with alot of punch. Typically these lows will develop rapidly off the high plains then weaken and occlude fairly quickly as well.

Underlying Model Prognostication:
Good agreement exists between the 18Z NAM and GFS as of this point, looks like the GFS may be having a better handle on development of the lee low. The upper level low will close off and secondary vortmax that rotates around closed low may be a crucial factor in the development of severe weather across the central Gulf Coast states into Wednesday night. AFWA MM5 is also in agreement with these models but better distinguishes active frontal convection with that associated with vortmax and cold pool of 500mb closed low.

Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook:
Since models were in good agreement AFWA MM5 model was used to distinguish best areas of convective activity for day 1. No organized severe weather is expected until around 21Z 16CST Tuesday. At that point as the upper level low winds up and sfc low has fully developed, 850 mb temps are shown to cool off rapidly through out the day, while surface temperature warm considerably due to daytime heating. This is combined with a dryline that progresses from the sfc up to 850 mb and develops in the eastern third of Oklahoma, Kansas and Northeastern Texas. This should spark a line of potentially severe thunderstorms, with a high likelihood of tornadic activity. The greatest threat will move into western Arkansas, with a large likelihood in MO and LA as well. Also severe weather is set to develop along the northern and western edges of the dry tongue before it wraps around and closes off the deepening 500 mb trough. Due to the strongest portion of the dryline at 850, it seems likely that greatest likelihood of large hail will be in the Ozarks region of western Oklahom and Arkansas into southern Missouri and northern Arkansas as well as in the higher elevation areas of Kansas and Nebraska high plains. Highest thunderstorm related winds will occur in the Arkansas area in association with strong 30+kt low level jet. A strong backside jet will also develop and may interact with storms develop along wrap around dry tongue, this would produce a high likelihood of severe winds across southern Nebrasika, northern and west-central Kansas.

Day 2 Severe Weather Outlook:
Day 2 initially begins with thunderstorms winding up over the mid-Mississippi valley as the day progresses upper level dynamics weaken as low becomes cut off from polar jet flow. A persistent low-level jet will remain, without the upper level support, this low-level flow will still develop some strong helicity values especially progged at 00Z the 7th along the MS/Al Gulf coast border, a line should develop northeast from this area. Also an area of increased cape will occur under the closed low, sfc heating should help spark convective activity. Some mid-level dry air may work in but soundings suggest driest air should be over northwest Georgia and northern Alabama, greatest probability of hail will be expected in this area, with some hail also be possible under the cold pool region of the upper level low situated over Arkansas. There is some suggestion of tornadic activity with low-level helicity values, however without strong upper level support, the development of tornadic supercells will be played down. Keeping chance storms into mid-missippi valley, Tennessee and lower Ohio valley's, with the slight risk over much of the southeast. While severe weather is certainly possible we feel the criteria for moderate risk has not been achieved except along the immediate Gulf Coast.

http://home.comcast.net/~bscheftic/tornado.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bscheftic/hail.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bscheftic/wind.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bscheftic/convective.jpg

ticka1
04-05-2005, 05:33 AM
Looks like the severe weather will miss us again here in SE texas. Keep us updated Caluwxbill.

jeffl
04-05-2005, 07:11 AM
SE TX: limited moisture and capped atmosphere should keep most if not all activity well N and E of our region.

Good discussion above

jeffl
04-05-2005, 10:28 AM
Strong surface low continues to deepen over W OK this morning with gusty south winds over much of TX and OK transporting a moist air mass northward. Surface dewpoints in the lower 60's now extend into S and SE OK with mid to even upper 60 degree dewpoints across the coastal bend and SE TX.

Dry line is currently west of a line from Fort Worth to Austin to Del Rio and starting to head east. Capping remains strong over most of the warm sector with 450 to 250 J/kg of CINH. Numerous stations will do a special 18Z sounding to sample the envirnoment in the risk area.

Strong 850mb low level jet of 40-50kts will continue to transport moisture northward into E TX and OK although the best surge will be across LA and AR where PWS of 1.2-1.3 can be found moving ashore near Lake Charles. Heating will boost CAPE values to near 3000 J/kg over N TX just ahead of the dry line by mid afternoon with a gradual weakening of the capping inversion. Storms should develop by mid to late afternoon from KS southward into N TX as dry line presses east and air mass becomes unstable and weakly capped. Given the shear in place thunderstorms should quickly organize into lines across KS and OK and spread E with a severe wind and hail threat. Further south over S OK and N TX, more capping and somewhat limited moisture will likely result in more scattered development and maybe a few supercells. Main threat here will be very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. Storms should greatly increase after dark over LA and AR as dynamics and dry line meet better moisture over those regions.

Over SE and C TX air mass will become unstable by late afternoon with 1500-2500 J/kg of CAPE, however air mass will be strongly capped. Heating may be enough for a few parcels to breech the cap over C TX along the dry line with storms moving toward College Station and Huntsville this evening. South of that line I expect little if any development due to very shallow moisture and strong capping, although a few showers under the cap will be possible. Will also have to keep an eye on moisture advection as more than forecast could weaken the cap more than expected

jeffl
04-05-2005, 07:49 PM
Cap is shattering along the C TX dry line as strong jet streak over WC TX plows into the base of the trough. Phone call confirms massive Tcu W of Austin off to the north into severe squall line from Burnet Co to near Waco. Dry line is well defined just W of Austin with SBCAPE of 2500 J/kg over most of C and SE TX. Cap has weakened over the northern 1/2 half of SE TX to support severe thunderstorms. Line should backbuild into Travis Co. and then sweep ESE toward KCLL and into SE TX this evening. Exact location of stronger capping to determine the southward extent of the line.

Low level inflow continues to increase over SE TX which will support a damaging wind threat along and ahead of the line and a very large hail threat.

Main severe threat is along and north of a Giddings to Conroe to Liberty line although this may need to be shifted southward based on radar trends.

Expect a new weather watch south of WW125 soon

jl

CalUWxBill
04-05-2005, 08:12 PM
Great info Jeff, the tail edge did break further south than I suspected, possibly due to the fact that the cap in Oklahoma broke about an hour previous of what I suspected. So very interesting, similar type of event to what I expected, except central TX getting hit harder than I suspected. Of course I admitted last night, I thought I might have been too lenient in this area.

jeffl
04-06-2005, 07:24 AM
Great info Jeff, the tail edge did break further south than I suspected, possibly due to the fact that the cap in Oklahoma broke about an hour previous of what I suspected. So very interesting, similar type of event to what I expected, except central TX getting hit harder than I suspected. Of course I admitted last night, I thought I might have been too lenient in this area.

I did not expect storms to develop as far south as they did and neither did SPC. However, by late afternoon and early evening it was becoming clear parcels would break the cap over C TX based on storng heating and visible images. Nobody got this one over C TX.

jeffl
04-06-2005, 07:25 AM
Ticka I sent some pictures to you if you want to post them on here. They were taken by my brother in Austin last evening

ticka1
04-06-2005, 06:55 PM
Here are Jeff's Pictures.

CalUWxBill
04-06-2005, 06:59 PM
great shots, thanks. We have had a few severe storms around my area (although nothing like your area), but most of the time you can't get a clear shot of them, before they are on you. So its cool to see some nice bubbling cumulonimbus.

longtalltexan79
04-06-2005, 08:25 PM
I just love a good shot of a cumulonimbus cloud in the distance. I've got one t hat I took last year on the way back from Brenham that looks like a mushroom cloud from an atomic bomb. I'll have to find that and share it, if anyone would like to see it.

Great shots!

ticka1
04-06-2005, 08:34 PM
I would love to see it Lynndy. I love looking at weather pictures.

longtalltexan79
04-06-2005, 08:34 PM
Oh and I forgot to give my weather report from last night when those storms blew through.

Very windy, lots of lightning, heavy rain, and some pea sized hail. All in all got a nice double punch around 2am.

ticka1
04-06-2005, 08:43 PM
Nothing here in Baytown - except a strong clap of thunder around 5:30 a.m. and just enough rain to wet the road. No measurable rainfall. Had a little wind. Looks like you get all the storms Lynndy and by the time they get on the East side - they go poof.

Patricia

longtalltexan79
04-07-2005, 01:34 AM
Finally I found the two pictures of that supercell I took in Brenham...it reminds me of a mushroom cloud...I took them in May of 2000...

I never realized how many weather pictures I have as I've gone through all my CD's trying to find these two...I think I'm going to gather them all together and get them on an online photo album to share with you guys cause some of them are neat looking...even found the two pictures of funnel clouds that I saw here at the house...and my TS Frances flood pics...yup, I think that's what I'm going to do cause I'm sure you guys would enjoy them...

Anywho here are two pics that I promised...