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After a rip-roaring JANUARY in the convective arena where at least half a dozen
separate severe weather episodes affected the region, picking one winner from
a handful of respectable entries was somewhat of a challenge. Our best looking
storm via the Doppler Radar occurred about 85 miles northwest of the radar on the evening
of the 21st. The storm developed near Monroe, LA where golfball size hail was
reported. The storm moved northeast and peaked on the images below shortly
before 800pm CST just to the west of Greenville, MS. The Base Reflectivity/Storm
Relative Velocity panel image below was one of several volume scans where a strong Mesocyclone was
detected along with VILs exceeding 55 kg/m*m which is more indicative of spring
season convection!
The elevation of the 50dBz core was very impressive and
would stand up to any spring storm as it reached to 36,000 feet with
60dBz returns to almost 24,000 feet. While some research indicates that a
Mesoscylone Depth of at least 10,000 feet is needed for a tornado, this storm
far exceeded any of our criteria as the depth reached 35,000 feet at times.
The Meso Ranking factors of 8 & 9 with this storm actually surpassed most of
the storms we viewed during all of 1998.
The images below are from a radar display system that is being installed
nationwide as part of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System(AWIPS).
Our office will be installing these new computers toward the end of April 1999
as part of the ongoing Modernization of the National Weather Service. We hope
to bring our Storm of the Month images using these new tools from now on.
![A 4-Panel with Lowest Two Elevation Angles for
Reflectivity and Storm Relative Velocity[radar located to the southeast
corner of the images - red(motion away), green(motion toward)].](Jan99w_e.jpg)
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A 4-Panel with Lowest Two Elevation Angles for
Reflectivity and Storm Relative Velocity[radar located to the southeast
corner of the images - red(motion away), green(motion toward)].
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A Cell Table analysis of Storm #72
A Composite Reflectivity View with Mesocyclone Table Analysis of
Critical Storm Parameters |
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A Reflectivity Cross Section
Return to Storm of the Month Index Page
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weather.gov 
