Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Vortex2 tornado study finally gets some twisters to study

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 1:56 PM GMT en Junio 08, 2009

A proven way to reduce the incidence of dangerous weather phenomena is to schedule a multi-million dollar field experiment to study the phenomena. Up until this past weekend, that has certainly been true of this year's $10 million Vortex2 tornado study. The 7-week study (which also runs next year) has deployed an armada of over 100 storm chasing vehicles across the Great Plains this Spring, but has largely been frustrated by an exceptionally quiet tornado season. Tornado activity in May was less than half of what was observed last year in May, thanks to a ridge of high pressure that has dominated the weather. The residents of Tornado Alley ran out of luck over the weekend, though, as a strong low pressure system and associated cold front brought severe weather and multiple tornadoes to the region. Sixteen tornado reports were received by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center yesterday, and three on Friday. The team of University of Michigan students that has been writing our featured Vortex2 blog caught some excellent pictures of tornadoes on both Friday and Sunday. Yesterday was probably the last best chance for the Vortex2 project to document a strong tornado, since the project ends this Saturday and no significant tornado outbreaks appear likely for the remainder of this week.

Aurora, Colorado tornado yesterday
A tornado with a 3/4 mile wide debris cloud swept through Aurora, Colorado yesterday, staying on the ground for 8 - 11 miles and damaging a shopping mall, but causing no deaths or injuries. The tornado passed close to one of the high-resolution Terminal Doppler Weather Radars (TDWRs) that we now feature on our web site (see the radar FAQ for more details on these great new additions to our radar offerings). Posted below are the reflectivity and Doppler velocity images from the tornado, showing the amazing fine-scale details these high-resolution radars offer.

Figure 1. Radar reflectivity (top) and Doppler velocity (bottom) from the Denver, Colorado Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), which caught the classic signature of a supercell thunderstorm tornado over Aurora, Colorado. A tornado dropped down from the low-level mesocyclone inside the parent supercell thunderstorm at the time of these images. Yellow colors located right next to greens/blues indicate that winds are moving towards and away from the radar in close proximity, the signature of strong rotation at low levels. Also visible on the plot are the winds spreading out from a downdraft on the rear side of the tornado. Black arrows denote the direction of wind flow. The dryline was bent back into a E-W orientation near Denver, creating an area of moisture convergence, which triggered thunderstorm formation.

Western Caribbean disturbance unlikely to develop this week
As area of disturbed weather over the Western Caribbean has brought rains of 2 - 3 inches over portions of Nicaragua and Honduras over the past few days. Wind shear is a high 20 - 30 knots over the disturbance, and no computer models are indicating that the disturbance will develop this week.

Jeff Masters, with help from wunderground's tornado expert, Dr. Rob Carver

(Vortex2)

Dying out after an official 24 minutes on the ground

Tornado (Fungus)

Twisted (rrose1)

This was taken approximately 30 minutes after a brief tornado passed through South Hutchinson, KS tonight. The building is a bus manufacturing facility.

Categories: Tornado

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1701. IKE 1:16 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting Orcasystems: You are 50+ remember.. its to be expected LOL! :( Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1703. Cavin Rawlins 1:18 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Taz, yea, they are slow to start especially the WPAC Member Since: Julio 24, 2005 Posts: 407 Comments: 19076

1704. 2010hurricane 1:22 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting Weather456: Taz, yea, they are slow to start especially the WPAC I Know!! Member Since: Junio 8, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 74

1705. Orcasystems 1:23 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting IKE: LOL! :( We are in desperate need of a new Blog :( Its getting so slow.. he might even mention GW just to Heat things up a bit (pun intended). Member Since: Octubre 1, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077

1706. CybrTeddy 1:24 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting Weather456: Taz, yea, they are slow to start especially the WPAC So, both the EPAC and the WPAC are below average were as the Atlantic is above? Member Since: Julio 8, 2005 Posts: 253 Comments: 20240

1707. WxLogic 1:24 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting TheCaneWhisperer: The NHC thinks it will find a weakness. You know what they say... if there's a will there's a way. Member Since: Agosto 14, 2008 Posts: 4 Comments: 4667

1708. WxLogic 1:24 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Morning... Member Since: Agosto 14, 2008 Posts: 4 Comments: 4667

1709. 69Viking 1:27 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting Orcasystems: When both numbers are in the 90's, that can't be to comfortable? And who drinks flavoured coffee first thing in the morning? Yep we've finally dried out and here comes the summer heat! No doubt this week will push the GOM water temperature up a bit. Hopefully shear continues to rule the day and keep anything from forming! Good morning everyone, nice and quiet tropics, just the way I like to see it! Member Since: Agosto 25, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 2247

1710. weathermanwannabe 1:28 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting Tazmanian: has any one noteded that the W Pac and E pac been slow starters this year starting to look more like 1965! K-Man mentioned it yesterday.....With all of the pent up heat that will continue to build around the Gulf region with high pressure dominating right now and no relief in sight in the short term, something will probably "pop" once the sheer dies down.......I don't like "late" starts to the season because some of the initial storms can become pretty strong because of the heat buildup before upwelling becomes a factor after a few storms in the basin....But then again, it's only June. Member Since: Agosto 8, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 6691

1712. IKE 1:30 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting Orcasystems: We are in desperate need of a new Blog :( Its getting so slow.. he might even mention GW just to Heat things up a bit (pun intended). OMG...please Dr. M, spare us the GW debate. Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1713. jeffs713 1:32 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting IKE: OMG...please Dr. M, spare us the GW debate. Hey! Some of us need entertainment to distract us from work! Member Since: Agosto 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

1714. TheCaneWhisperer 1:32 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting WxLogic: You know what they say... if there's a will there's a way. I think this area has been willed to death, literally, lol.

1715. RitaEvac 1:33 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
. Member Since: Julio 14, 2008 Posts: 1 Comments: 8899

1716. IKE 1:33 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting TheCaneWhisperer: I think this area has been willed to death, literally, lol. I do too. Like an energizer bunny...just keeps going and going...... Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1717. nrtiwlnvragn 1:35 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
12Z Surface Analysis Click on image to view original size in a new window Member Since: Septiembre 23, 2005 Posts: 11 Comments: 8923

1718. jeffs713 1:40 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
5 bucks says that at least 1 blogger will declare the Columbian low on nrtiwlnvragn's post as "proof" that the AOI in the western Caribbean is actually trying to develop. Member Since: Agosto 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722

1719. scottsvb 1:43 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting jeffs713: 5 bucks says that at least 1 blogger will declare the Columbian low on nrtiwlnvragn's post as "proof" that the AOI in the western Caribbean is actually trying to develop. Well Here comes out low off of Columbia... lol jk!!!! Member Since: Enero 22, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 1065

1720. CybrTeddy 1:49 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting jeffs713: 5 bucks says that at least 1 blogger will declare the Columbian low on nrtiwlnvragn's post as "proof" that the AOI in the western Caribbean is actually trying to develop. 5 bucks that 5 other bloogers will declare that blogger a wishcaster. Member Since: Julio 8, 2005 Posts: 253 Comments: 20240

1721. gator23 1:51 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting jeffs713: 5 bucks says that at least 1 blogger will declare the Columbian low on nrtiwlnvragn's post as "proof" that the AOI in the western Caribbean is actually trying to develop. The Low in Columbia is proof that the AOI is trying to develop. I Owe you 5 bucks. Member Since: Agosto 26, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1994

1722. gator23 1:52 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting CybrTeddy: 5 bucks that 5 other bloogers will declare that blogger a wishcaster. I am a wishcaster Member Since: Agosto 26, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1994

1723. tornadofan 1:52 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Boring - maybe climate change would be better? Naah. Member Since: Abril 5, 2007 Posts: 83 Comments: 12345

1725. TampaSpin 1:57 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
TampaSpins Tropical Update....stick my neck out Named storm coming by June 19th! Link Member Since: Septiembre 2, 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747

1726. Patrap 1:59 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Baby you've been gone so Long.. Member Since: Julio 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111403

1727. SavannahStorm 2:03 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
WIPEOUT Time to catch a wave Member Since: Septiembre 22, 2005 Posts: 18 Comments: 2135

1728. gator23 2:05 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Quoting TampaSpin: TampaSpins Tropical Update....stick my neck out Named storm coming by June 19th! Link Tampa, I have never been to your blog until today. I was very impressed. Its a wealth of information. Please keep up the excellent work! Member Since: Agosto 26, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1994

1729. SavannahStorm 2:07 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
new blog Member Since: Septiembre 22, 2005 Posts: 18 Comments: 2135

1730. 0741 2:07 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
why their low on map were their nothing in sw carribbean shear very high??

1731. IKE 2:07 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
NEW BLOG! Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

1732. TheCaneWhisperer 2:07 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
I sense a weakness in the Farce.

1733. stoormfury 2:07 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
the ssts near the south american coast appears to br cooling somewhat while the MDR in the atlantic is showing signs of warming. is this the reason why the epac and wpac are slow in kicking off? or is it that were are reversing to a neutral/ weak el nino episode? Member Since: Agosto 22, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 2303

1734. nrtiwlnvragn 2:07 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
New Blog...and that saying about careful what you wish for... Member Since: Septiembre 23, 2005 Posts: 11 Comments: 8923

1735. TheCaneWhisperer 2:28 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
Click image for link

1737. kimoskee 4:45 PM GMT en Junio 10, 2009
what's the forecast for Kingston, Jamaica? Is this rain going to hang around until the weekend? Member Since: Agosto 17, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 670

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