TORP Probs Incresing with as mid-level meso becomes stronger (38%)

Decided to issue a tornado warning at 42% with increasing trend, this was largely based on torp. Would not have done this with base radar data.

Issued a tornado around 2152z based on increasing TORP values in southern Woodward County

Convective initiation has occurred along the dryline within a strongly unstable environment supporting intense convection over western Oklahoma. Visible satellite shows cumulus field displaced to the east, tied to richer low-level moisture and lower LCL heights. As storms move east into this more favorable environment and sufficient low level shear, low-level mesocyclones and tornadoes will become common with discrete supercells. Into the evening, a corridor of particularly favorable hodographs due to strengthening low level jet will occur over portions of central and north-central Oklahoma, supporting strong/long-track tornadoes even after dark. Will be watching experimental TORP, AzShear, and DvShear products closely during this evolution as part of this HWT experiment. So far, only one low-probability TORP indicated, but the near-term threat from an environmental standpoint is increasing.  -dryadiabat

Having a way to just see the highest TORP probability triangle when multiple radars are selected would be beneficial (without having to manually deselect radars).

In the above screenshots, a damaging tornado was occurring. The strongest AzShear was within the Tornado PHI circle, but the strongest DivShear was not. In this case, the tornado was obvious from velocity data, but in marginal cases this could possibly lead to some confusion in where to focus attention.

Vrot according to the TORP for this storm was only 33 (not shown here). Turns out this is in m/s and not kts which is more accurate, though kts would be preferred. Either way, the units being displayed would be helpful.

The time series charts are helpful for maintaining situational awareness throughout a storm’s life cycle and knowing what values are extreme, low, etc.

I’ve noticed a few instances where the PHI tool seems to outline an area before TORP. I could totally be interpreting this wrong, but I find that to be interesting.

-FujitaReno

First thing I realized when analyzing AzShear side bye side with Velocity is that the AzShear feature catches the eye much better than a weaker rotation signature in Velocity. Here is an example: If a forecaster was looking at a lot of activity going on around the CWA, a weaker velocity signature can be missed, but AzShear jumps out with the high (white) values. This circulation went on to strengthen quickly and to me the AzShear did a better job at showing that earlier in the tornadoes life.

Another example, also involving TORP: Focusing on the weaker circulation in the following images, which is outlined by the TORP circle that is farther southwest. 0.5 Velocity again shows a weaker rotation that could be overlooked. That same scan though, AzShear is lit up along with TORP of 48%. This allowed me to look closer at that feature and I found a weak echo region and a higher reflectivity core aloft. Once again showing AzShear and TORP are good for situational awareness.

-Gary

So far, I am finding this tool very helpful. However, I am wondering where I will put this on my typical setup. Add it to my 9 panel? Or make a whole new procedure? I think it may be repetitive to flip across procedures when I have SRM, ZDR, etc suggesting a TOR. Not sure it would be helpful enough to make a whole new procedure for.

Interested to see how it handles weaker tornadoes as well.

Just giving an initial test of a potential optimal layout. Using All-Tilts Z, SRM, AzShear/DvShear toggle, and CC for debris detection. Will refine later, but I like this as an initial start.
-dryadiabat

Green next to red = bad. Tornado warning issued.

-Lumbergh

Right off the bat, I notice that the icons for TORP, even when loaded with maximum line thickness, can easily get lost if the brightness of your loaded radar reflectivity is too high (top image below). By reducing the brightness to 75%, the TORP icons became more noticeable (bottom image below).

It was reassuring to see TORP perform well with the knockout cases. I would have been concerned if it missed a tornado signature this prominent. This increased my confidence in using it at the very least as a situational awareness tool. An example below:

It’s evident that TORP maintained very high probabilities the entire track of this confirmed violent tornado (>99%).

However, the limitations were still glaringly apparent at times, with a >20% probability for a tornado being shown in an area of noise (below)

– Mr. Peanut