This is a basic comparison between three options for the OCTANE. The top animation is No Smooth, the middle is Medium Smooth, and the bottom is High Smooth.  For starters, I do like the looks with the smoothing, it is easier on the eyes and rids of any excess noise.  I feel this helps to recognize trends easier and remain focused on those trends through the animation.  In this loop, following the regenerating updrafts west of College Station and Snook, TX, was somewhat easier to follow on either the medium or high smooth.  Smoothing out the excess noise around the updraft helped remain focused on the primary portion of the storm.  The warning issued was based on radar data, but could imagine the Cloud Top Divergence being a helpful tool in warning decisions if radar data wasn’t available. It certainly is a “confidence booster” or a nudger if you’re on the fence for a warning or not. It would be interesting to correlate the CTP (to hail size, wind, and/or if a tornado was produced. Obviously this would take some extensive research.

-Podium