LOCATION SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Any statements which quantify or detail the electrical character of the atmosphere over ECFL can be useful to NOWCAST readers.  Pertinent information which can be added to a NOW include:


CG Lightning Onset time/location:  Using satellite, radar, and LDAR signatures, forecasters should attempt to issue a NOW each day in advance of the initial CG strikes. Unique methods to convey this information should be explored. For example, a NOW could be issued for Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties at 10 AM with a headline stating "...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BEGIN BY 11 AM..."
 
CG Lightning occurring far from the cell core:  LDAR signatures of anvil lightning can be especially useful since a majority of lightning deaths occur from strikes away from the cell core. If the upper level flow is favorable for an anvil to travel far downstream from the reflectivity core and TLI data supports elevated electrification, a NOW could be issued to supply this important information. For example, a 2 PM NOW could state: "...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING DANGER ACROSS MARTIN COUNTY... THROUGH 4 PM...MOST RAINFALL WILL REMAIN TO THE SOUTH OVER PALM BEACH COUNTY HOWEVER OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES TO THE GROUND WILL LIKELY OCCUR ACROSS PORTIONS OF MARTIN COUNTY FAR FROM THE STORMS. FAR REACHING LIGHTNING STRIKES OCCUR WITH LITTLE ADVANCE WARNING...AND THEREFORE CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS."

CG Lightning End time/location:  Specifying lightning end times can be more arduous than determining start times. Although determining an end time for ALL CG strikes associated with particular cells is unlikely at this point, the lightning workstations can help forecasters identify a decreasing potential for ground strikes. If the anvil has advected away from the area, re-development is not expected, and TLI displays confirm an end to electrification, useful information can be supplied in a NOWCAST.  For example, a NOW could be written for Lake, Orange, and Seminole counties at 6 PM, such as "...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING DECREASING...  THROUGH 8 PM...THE THREAT OF CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY AS STORMS MOVE INTO THE COASTAL COUNTIES AND THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES STABLE ACROSS THE METRO ORLANDO VICINITY."

The NOWCAST segments cited above were created to illustrate how TLI can potentially be used to increase public awareness and hopefully improve reactions. Forecasters are urged to experiment with unique wording to convey the lightning threat, as portrayed by TLI workstations, to the ECFL NOW customers. Examples taken from actual NOW's will be collected and displayed on LANTERN and on the USER.COM bulletin board as appropriate. The TLI initiative is just beginning, and will evolve as we learn additional ways to convey information from the lightning sensors to the public.