Radars capture valuable scans of May 2013 tornadoes

On both May 19 and May 20, 2013, NSSL researchers collected data on storms that produced tornadoes using both the NWRT Phased Array Radar (PAR), and the mobile dual-polarized radar.  The NWRT PAR can scan the sky in less than one minute, five-times faster than current weather radars.  Datasets from the rapidly-updating NWRT PAR will help researchers better understand the evolution of rotating thunderstorms and the tornadoes they produce.

May 19, 2013

The NWRT PAR, a retired Navy surveillance radar adapted for weather, scanned a storm from its first radar echoes through its production of a tornado.  When this storm moved out of range, the PAR was directed to scan the tornado that formed in Norman, Okla. through the time the tornado moved into Shawnee, Okla., killing two people.  Loops of radar imagery are below with still images following.

May 20, 2013

The NWRT PAR scanned the Newcastle-Moore tornadic storm for almost an hour.  This storm produced an EF5 tornado that killed 24 people and injured more than 300.

Here are links to radar loops (still images below):

TOR warning at 1940 UTC

The NWRT was tracking (before 2000UTC) a storm to the south that also had a TOR warning
TDWR: The Moore Tornado from 1930-2059 UTC
Earlier on May 19, 2013 the NWRT PAR scanned this storm from the time it formed, through the formation of a tornado until it died.
Earlier on May 19, 2013 the NWRT PAR scanned this storm from the time it formed, through the formation of a tornado until it died. This radar can complete a full scan of the weather in less than one minute.
WSR-88D scan from May 19, 2013.
WSR-88D scan from May 19, 2013. It takes 4-5 minutes for this radar to complete one full scan of the weather.
The NWRT Phased Array Radar scanned the tornadic storm that hit Shawnee, OK.
The NWRT Phased Array Radar scanned the tornadic storm that formed later, hitting Shawnee, OK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WSR-88D scan of the May 20, 2013 storms.
WSR-88D scan of the May 20, 2013 storms.
May 20, 2013 Terminal Doppler Weather Radar scanned the Newcastle-Moore tornado from 1930-2059 UTC.
May 20, 2013 Terminal Doppler Weather Radar scanned the Newcastle-Moore tornado from 1930-2059 UTC.
The NWRT Phased Array Radar scanned the tornadic storm over Moore for almost an hour from 2003-2059 UTC.
The NWRT Phased Array Radar scanned the tornadic storm over Moore for almost an hour from 2003-2059 UTC.
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