After identifying rapidly cooling cloud tops off the CTC product (shown in a previous blog post), close attention was given to the storm that developed in Ward County and moved across Crane County and into Upton County. The decision to warn was based off the combination of a few products from MRMS…namely the rapid increase in number and value of pixels of the 60 dBZ echo above the -20C line…the breadth of the 50 dBZ echo above the 0C line…composite reflectivity…and the MESH product. An example 4panel image of these parameters is shown at 2048Z that was indicative of the values and appearance of the fields that prompted high confidence in issuing a severe thunderstorm warning for quarter sized hail. The increase in size and values of the 50 and 60 dBZ echo heights in particular were great in evaluating the storm growth and potential storm severity…especially when keeping the storm environment in mind.

RJM