02 Feb 2019 AzShear Case

AzShear helped identify a new developing circulation ahead of the reflectivity signature. This provided added SA in watching for new meso development. It also “might” help identify quick spin-ups along a surging bow echo or RFD. At first glance, false alarms appeared to be minimized but this was a fairly classic supercell case with at least one strong tornado and clear debris signature.

— S Coulomb

23 Feb 2019 AzShear

The single radar AzShear product seems particularly useful in the warning environment, especially as an SA tool. At 2307Z the AzShear product highlights an area of enhanced shear near the inflow region of a supercell SW of a KGWX (immediately north of the little red marker) whereas the base velocity has no discernible couplet. Roughly 11 minutes later, at 2318Z, the couplet was clearly visible on base velocity with AzShear even more pronounced value. As an SA tool, AzShear shows promise for highlighting potentially problematic areas before fully reflected in the base products. This product has the potential to help with warning lead times, especially if the storm is in a favorable tornadic environment.

— Stanley Cupp

2307Z AzShear, base reflectivity (top right), and storm-relative velocity (bottom right)

2318Z AzShear, base reflectivity, and storm-relative velocity

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Can see the strong AZ-Shear signal developing along the zero-isodop in the velocity product.

 

One big benefit of the AZ-Shear product is that i can see is increasing shear along the zero isodop line.  This caught my attention of increasing rotation compared to looking/waiting for the velocity product  couplet to develop.  This seems more pro-active in this case to possibly anticipate earlier tornadic development. -Jake Johnson

 

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THE 3 MARCH 2019 CASE FOR AZSHEAR – #6

Here’s another example of where the single radar AzShear product may have provided me with some lead time/added confidence in my warning decision making process, with the 0-2km merged product confirming the vertical depth of this circulation (first two images, below).

Further to the south along the line, the kinks within the line are that much more evident/prominent with the single radar AzShear when used in conjunction with other more traditional radar products (last image, below).

~Gritty

THE 3 MARCH 2019 CASE FOR AZSHEAR – #5

Now here is an example of where the single radar AzShear product would have provided me with some lead time with respect to grabbing my attention sooner in further interrogating a tightening circulation embedded within the heart of the QLCS. As for the merged products, I was unable to gain any insight with those products for what appears to be this relatively shallow circulation.

~Gritty

AzShear and storm mode

An example where mode can be inferred using AzShear products. In the first image, we’re dealing with a nice linear segment without any ‘concerning’ rotational features.

Shortly after, the AzShear product clearly highlights threat areas for QLCS tornadic development in at least two distinct locations.

Having this product up in an SA perspective, you’d be able to quickly tell when you need to start being concerned with a structure change in the line.

Merged AzShear for Strength Trends

An example where AzShear data can show storm trends in one image without looping. As SAILS cuts come in you’re able to view rotational strength trends before the entire image is replaced by the next volume scan. Although this image is looping you can see the times when sails cuts would be overlain on one image.

THE 3 MARCH 2019 CASE FOR AZSHEAR – #3

For this embedded tornado, it wasn’t as obvious the circulation that was developing as compared to the supercell from the previous post. It starts out as a kink in the line, which definitely was something that grabbed my attention nonetheless. From there, you can clearly see the evolution of the circulation as it tightens. Would it provide me with additional lead time in a warning? It’s possible by maybe a scan or two, but would like to see more cases using this product first before making that determination.

~Gritty

Merged 3-6 AzShear picking up on mesocyclones early

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In watching for convection knowing that later in the simulation there will be tornadoes produced in the FL Panhandle, I took a peak at each product prior to convection. Single radar AzShear is a little far away and doesn’t pick up on it but the merged products give an early indication that a supercell is developing and beginning to rotate. Knowing this storm will produce a tornado this is very helpful as a heads up.

 

— lakeeffect