A severe weather system rolled through central Oklahoma on April 19, 2023, producing supercell thunderstorms that yielded at least 18 tornadoes. From observations, to modeling to post-storm damage assessment, NSSL researchers gathered comprehensive data and put their cutting edge research to the test on storms in their own backyard.
Fifty years ago, on May 24, 1973, a violent F-4 tornado tore through the central Oklahoma town of Union City, killing two people and injuring at least four more. While the human impact of the storm was devastating, the Union City tornado was also historic as it marked the first time researchers were able to use radar to observe the entire lifecycle of a tornado.
Researchers constantly study new ways to help weather forecasters utilize the vast amount of data provided by the nation’s Doppler radar network.
NSSL lead electrical and electronics engineer Allen Zahrai has been named the NOAA-wide September 2010 Employee of the month.
The Winter Precipitation Identification Near the Ground (W-PING) project invites public observations of winter precipitation from volunteers within a 90-mile radius of Norman, Okla. Go to http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/winter/