The Storm Patrol

The following images are from GOES-13 22240 miles above the surface of the earth in geosynchronous orbit, MODIS (Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)  from NASA’s  AQUA and TERRA satellites which orbit the 438miles above the Earth providing much higher resolution images. There is a catch as the satellites orbit much lower they only image the entire earth every 1 – 2 days.  The final sensor used to gather these images is the KFTG WSR-88D radar located at the Front range airport just East of Denver, CO . The WSR-88D sends out pulses of radio waves that bounce off the precipitation or smoke in this instance to determine the distance, range, and angle from the radar site, it can also use Doppler shift to calculate the velocity of the precipitation that the waves reflect off of.

Here are some links to read more about the above sensors and the fire.

Google News links “Bolder Fire”

Wikipedia Article GOES

Wikipedia Article MODIS

Wikipedia Article WSR-88D NEXRAD

1km resolution MODIS image of smoke plume.

Quite a few Severe Studios chasers out in the target area today. Click here to see live streaming video from severestudios.com

The SPC has a 5% tornado risk for IA / MN today. Just a quick look at the models is showing the best risk for tornadoes is north of Des Moines, IA into MN along I-35.  With a surface low moving NE from NE into NW IA into SC MN the sfc winds are starting to back to the SE driving 0-1km srh values up. Late summer temps and moisture should drive MLCAPE into the 2500 J/KG range resulting in 0-1km EHI’s close to 3.

Here is the 1630z tornado outlook from the SPC. Click to see text from SPC.

I have posted some model data click more to see it.

continue reading…

The SPC has a slight risk for severe weather in parts of NC Iowa on the day2 outlook. I would have to agree looking at the models there is a nice trough coming in with a ~ 100kt 500mb jet streak over the target driving 0-1km EHI values into 2.5 – 3 range what the heck is it May?

So the 64k question, are we going to be chasing this? I don’t really know yet I have allot going on this weekend into Tuesday but I really want to so will just have to see. As for Jordan who knows he’s in Arkansas systematically removing all of the trout from the white river!

The aforementioned day2 outlook. click image to read text and see current SPC information.

Tyler.

Hurricane Earl passed the outer banks last night without major damage, NC really dodged a bullet

Nantucket is next in line but the storm is much weaker then it once was.

Click here to read the latest forecast for Hurricane Earl

Earl’s eye is getting HUGE looking at the radar image from Morehead City, NC

NOT LIVE!

Click here to see current forecast from NHC / TPC

Jordan was on this tornado warned storm in Jasper County, MO 2010-09-02

Jordan took this video from near Jasper, MO looking SW.

The SPC has issued Mesoscale Discussion 1781 for my target area in NC OK and SE KS.

Click to read text and see updated products from SPC

Hurricane Earl is not turning as much as expected and may clip the outer banks of North Carolina.

Following image from NHC / TPC

The following picture is from US Navy Fleet Meteorology Center

Level2 Radar Image as of 1902Z 9 – 2 DOES NOT UPDATE.

I will be chasing a slight risk today in SE KS into NC and NE OK.  Stay tuned to this site or Twitter / Facebook for updates.

The SPC has forecast a slight risk today for much of the Central and Southern plains. Here is a link to the SPC to check for updates and possiable watches.

Tyler.

Hurricane Earl is getting closer to the eastern seaboard the latest NHC is showing Earl missing the US by 100miles or so but NC and VA are still in the error cone.

Here are some good hurricane data links.

National Hurricane Center

CIMMS Tropical Cyclones

FNMOC Satellite Data Tropical Cyclone Page