🚀 go-pugleaf

> ----------
> From:         Paul I. Watkins[SMTP:benny@NS.KCONLINE.COM]
> Sent:         Thursday, August 13, 1998 8:34 AM
> To:   Multiple recipients of list SKYWARN
> Subject:      Re: SKYWARN Digest - 11 Aug 1998 to 12 Aug 1998
>
> While storm relative velocity is definitely the most informative in terms
> of
> providing immediate information on individual thunderstorm processes (ie,
> detecting rotation), I have to cast my vote for echo tops.  There are
> three
> reasons for this:
>
> 1. Intellicast updates too slowly and is too lagged to be of any use with
> SRV images.  By the time you're viewing them, any interesting phenomena
> will
> be history - how long do we want to wait to detect a tornadic signature?
> SRV's are great, but only if they're current and update at a more
> respectable 7 - 10 minute intervals.  I don't want just another historical
> picture, I want something that can help me make decisions *now* and in the
> immediate future.
>
I agree with your reasoning, but there are more signatures in these echos
than just tornadoes.

> 2. If I'm looking for tornadic signatures in SRV images then I'm already
> late - I should have left my computer an hour ago to get out there and
> position myself.  By the time I see something, it's far too late.
>
Agree.

> 3. The NWS has near real-time access to these images, they are trained in
> interpreting them, and they do a great job telling us the only thing we
> want
> to know - where they see a possible tornado.  In other words, SRVs are
> doing
> their job right now in the hands of the NWS and I really don't think they
> would be of much benefit to us.  If we could get real-time access and also
> know what we're doing, then yes it'd be great.
>
Well, here in the Northeast a tornado is a rare occurrence. However,
straight line
gust fronts, nor-easters, and hurricanes are real threats. A gust front,
mini or macro
burst, may stay together long enough to be a useful piece of info on NEXRAD.
Our
high wind warnings are more likely to be a product of a low pressure system
than convection.

One other thing, my local radar product already shows echo tops with
direction and speed.
It's a composite (not direct NEXRAD), but seems to do a fairly good job
already.

> I chose echo tops because at least that gives me more information that
> will
> help me deploy and position myself.  With that I'm not mislead by
> reflectivity intensities into going after the wrong storm.  It can also
> help
> show more clearly which cells are growing and which are dying.  It's
> information that will help me both now and an hour or two down the road.
> Even the lag of Intellicast won't throw away its usefulness.  In fact, the
> only time I ever use Intellicast is to see their Radar Summary image just
> because it has echo tops and storm motion vectors - it's old, but it helps
> a
> lot.
>
I think we are just on different pages. You seem to speaking as a chaser, I
as
a spotter. You are judging your choice around tornadic activity (which is
fine),
but I would love to see the signature of a big "no-name" noreaster or a
thunderstorm
front that stretches from New Hampshire to Rhode Island. Thanks for your
comments
Paul.



Steve D'Amelio
Norfolk/Worcester County MA

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