There are also equations built in to the software to assist us with hail detection, and determining the size of potential hail stones. The radar's computer can also estimate rainfall based on the intensity and duration of the returns, and is able to display maps with 1 hour totals, 3 hour totals, and storm total rainfall. We can determine it is hail since its return is a lot stronger than that of water particles. The tilted white core is indicative of the large hail in this storm. With AWIPS, the starting and ending points of the cross section can be placed anywhere and in any orientation. The scale along the bottom is distance along the ground, and the scale on the side is height above ground. The image below is a cross section of a hailstorm on Apthat moved from the eastern West Virginia panhandle across northern Virginia and into southern Maryland. Instead of viewing the data in each "slice" along the Earth's surface, it is also possible to view the data with respect to height. AWIPS makes this task much easier since the data gathering is done automatically.Īs indicated above, the radar can view storms at multiple levels. In other words, if the radar were to develop mechanical difficulties, we can always obtain radar data from surrounding sites, and maintain surveillance. That feature was useful in this instance, as the storm was closer to the WSR-88D radar in Pittsburgh, PA. We also have the ability to dial to other radars to get a different view of storms. A reflectivity image from this storm at the same time can be seen to the right. This tornado occurred during the tornado outbreak in western Maryland and eastern West Virginia on June 2, 1998. This was the case in this image, when there was an F4 tornado on the ground near Frostburg.
Thus, if a similar scenario is found at the same location at different, adjacent levels, this is a rotating column of air, which is a precursor of tornado development. We have the ability to view radar data at a number of levels. However, this accounts for the wind field at just one level. From this, one can infer rotation in this spot since fairly strong winds are depicted in opposite directions side by side. In the image below left, the areas colored green depict movement toward the radar (which is off the image to the right), and the areas colored red depict movement away from the radar. The advantage of Doppler radar is its ability to not just detect where the precipitation is falling, but also determine movement of particles within the storm. The meteorologist has a chance to make any necessary additions or adjustments on a text workstation before issuing the warning.
AWIPS then composes the warning, and includes the names of communities in the path of the storm, and the time they will be first affected. The meteorologist then makes sure the proper items are clicked in the box, including warning type, valid time, and any appropriate instructions, and then clicks an icon at the bottom of the screen to compose the warning. This is so the computer can calculate storm movement. The cursor is moved to the storm of concern on the current radar image, and a radar image from 10 to 15 minutes prior. A cursor pops up on the screen, along with a dialog box (seen to the left). It is preferable to have two people working a threat/assignment as a team, as the interaction typically assists, especially when feature are subtle.Īfter interrogating a storm, if a radar meteorologist determines that a warning is required, he/she clicks on an icon that's in the upper right corner of the AWIPS graphic screen. The workload may be divided geographically (one person handles the eastern part of the Warning Area, while another takes the northwest, and a third takes the southwest), or by hazard (a forecaster assesses the wind/hail threat, while the other looks out for flooding). In active weather regimes, multiple meteorologists might be monitoring radar data as it becomes available.
Therefore, a meteorologist is solely assigned this task. However, when there are storms on the radar, this is a much more time-consuming matter. Radar surveillance is always part of the job it is a basic part of conducting a continuous weather watch.
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