Briefing Links for ESCI 491: Storm Chasing
Links below are listed in the order you will be presenting them, according to our weather briefing strategy. Additional resources follow the standard briefing links. (You can download the additional links as a collection to import into your own browser.)
Note: as we look at weather data we will be using Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), which is the same as military "Zulu" time (Z), based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). In Colorado (MDT) we're 6 hours behind UTC, so 12 UTC = 6am LT, 18 UTC = 12pm LT, 00 UTC = 6pm LT.
Recent Weather History
- 500-mb Hemispheric Analysis (LINK)
- Assess 500-mb analysis - black lines = height contours, colors = anomalously high or low heights
- Focus on 24-hour history
- Synoptic troughs & ridges, shortwave troughs, strengthening vs. weakening
- Which features were over central U.S. yesterday afternoon (00 UTC)?
- Which features are currently over central U.S.?
- Yesterday's High-Res Surface Analysis (LINK)
- Point out any major surface features over central U.S. yesterday afternoon responsible
for major weather (~00 UTC)
- Point out any major surface features over central U.S. yesterday afternoon responsible
for major weather (~00 UTC)
- SPC Severe Storm Reports Last 24 Hours (LINK)
- Identify yesterday's severe weather occurrences over central US
- Identify yesterday's severe weather occurrences over central US
- COD Longwave IR Satellite Loop (LINK)
- Identify recent/current cloud cover, type, & movement over central US
- National Radar Mosaic Loop (LINK)
- Identify recent/current precipitation systems, type, & movement over central US
12Z ("Current") Top-Down Analysis
- NOAA/SPC Upper Air Maps (LINK)
- Choose 500 mb for 12Z, which has divergence overlaid
- Assess regions of upper level divergence over central US
- If NOT updated to current 12Z, use Wyoming (LINK)
- COD Upper Air Maps (LINK)
- Choose 500 mb Vorticity for 12Z, which has vorticity overlaid
- Assess large-scale positive vorticity advection over/entering central US
- Identify shortwave troughs over west/central US
- COD RAP Mesoanalysis (LINK)
- Choose Water Vapor and 500mb Vorticity for Continential US for current time
- Identify shortwave troughs over west/central US and motion
- NOAA/SPC Upper Air Maps (LINK)
- Choose 700 mb for 12Z, with dew-point overlay
- Reassess shortwave trough placement
- Assess advection = moisture advection & thermal advection
- COD Upper Air Maps (Reanalysis) (LINK)
- Choose 850 mb for 12z, with dew-point overlay
- Assess advection = moisture advection & thermal advection
- WPC Latest Surface Analysis (LINK)
- Point out High/Low centers, frontal boundaries, dry lines, dew-points of interest
GFS Forecast: Model Top-Down Assessment
- Pivotal Weather Model Interface (LINK)
- Choose Animation and Forecast Loop, and assess the following:
- 300 mb winds
- 500 mb vorticity (look for shortwaves)
- 700 mb RH
- 700 mb temperature / height (look for shortwaves)
- 850 mb temperature / height
- 850 mb dew-point
- Precipitation type & rate with SLP overlay
- Alternative GFS: College of DuPage (LINK)
High-Res Model Forecast: HRRR or NAM 3-km
- Pivotal Weather Model Interface (LINK)
- Choose either HRRR or NAM-3km, animation and forecast loop, then assess the following:
- 2 m dewpoint & wind barbs
- Severe Weather - SBCAPE or Mixed-Layer CAPE, 0-6 km bulk shear, 0-3 km SRH
- Forecast soundings by clicking on map location at time of interest
- Alternative: College of DuPage (LINK)
Forecast Summary
- SPC Severe Weather Outlook (LINK)
- Read below the map for discussion by SPC forecasters for storm type and probability
Additional Resources
- SPC Severe Weather Outlook (LINK)
- FANCY STUFF (don't show these unless there's additional time)
