This is an example where the CI product performed very well. At 1915Z, the CI probability increased from nothing to 61% (yellow) and 70% (yellow-orange) over two spots in the Boulder FA. In the next satellite scan (15 min later), you can see the significant cloud growth that occurred in the exact area where the 70% CI product had been. This storm continues to grow in the proceeding images and eventually becomes severe. The cell that showed 61% CI also intensifies significantly, but it takes a little longer (about an hr).

I was pretty pessimistic about the CI product after using it yesterday in the southeastern part of the country where there were widespread discrete and multicells. There were so many areas that the CI picked up on that it just become too busy to be of much use to me. However, my faith has been restored in the CI product after seeing how well it is performing out west today. I think that the utility of the product will depend on the type of the convection expected and the coverage of the expected convection.

(Click image to see animation)

-Helen Hunt