Use this Word document for this lab. In this lab you will use Stuve diagrams (from radiosonde soundings) and a surface weather map to forecast the likelihood of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the United States for a specific day.
TornadoStuveLab_v1-1 x
Actions
You will be filling out information for several Stuve diagrams which are provided below as well. The values of CAPE, LI, PW, and HEL are all provided in the column to the right of the Stuve diagram. For “Parcel Description” and “Dewpoint Description” briefly describe the shape of these two lines on the Stuve diagram.
STUVES:
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KGSO_201404281200.gif
KJAN_201404281200.gif
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KLIX_201404281200.gif
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KTLH_201404281200.gif
You can use this map of the United States as reference for the locations of each station identifier in each Stuve daigram.
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Use this surface weather map to see if there are any fronts or boundaries on this day.
SURFACE MAP:
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Use these maps to verify your forecasts.
VERIFICATION:
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Tornado Forecasting Lab Name ________________________________________________
In this lab, you will use Stuve diagrams (from radiosonde soundings) and a surface weather map to forecast the likelihood of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the United States.
L = Lift Surface weather map: Fronts
I = Instability Stuve diagram: Parcel (yellow line), CAPE>1000, Lifted Index (LI<-3)
M = Moisture Stuve diagram: Dewpoint temperature (black dashed line), Precipitable Water (PW>1)
B = Boundaries Surface weather map: Fronts or other boundaries
S = Shear Stuve diagram: Helicity (HEL>250)
Stuve Diagrams
Station Identifier:
CAPE: Parcel Description:
LI:
PW: Dewpoint Description:
HEL: |
Surface Weather Map
Using the surface weather map on Canvas, are there any fronts or other boundaries? If yes, where are they located?
Final Analysis
What stations have the highest likelihood for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms? WHY?
Draw concentric circles on the map below indicating where you think there is HIGH, MEDIUM, and LOW chances of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Verification
Use the maps listed under “Verification” on Canvas to determine how close your forecasts were to the actual forecasts produced by the Storm Prediction Center
How close was your forecasts to the actual forecasts?