NSSL Staff Profiles

Jeff is a research meteorologist and federal lead of the Precipitation and Advanced Radar Studies (PARS) team. His primary areas of research are (1) applications of polarimetric weather radar to cloud and precipitation microphysics as observed in nature and storm-scale numerical modeling and (2) studies of convective storm structure and evolution using real and simulated weather radar, with a focus on tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

Before joining NSSL as a federal meteorologist in 2017, Jeff was a research scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS) at the University of Oklahoma (2015-2017) and a post-doctoral research associate hosted by NSSL through the National Research Council's Research Associateship Program (NRC RAP; 2013-2015).

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Selected Publications

Snyder, J. C., H. B. Bluestein, G. Zhang, and S. J. Frasier, 2010: Attenuation correction and hydrometeor classification of high-resolution, X-band, dual-polarized mobile radar measurements in severe convective storms.  J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 27, 1979–2001, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JTECHA1356.1.

Snyder, J. C., H. B. Bluestein, V. Venkatesh, and S. J. Frasier, 2013: Observations of polarimetric signatures in supercells by an X-band mobile Doppler radar. Mon. Wea. Rev., 141, 3–29, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-12-00068.1.

Pazmany, A. L., J. B. Mead, H. B. Bluestein, J. C. Snyder, and J. B. Houser, 2013: A mobile rapid-scanning X-band polarimetric (RaXPol) Doppler radar system. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 30, 1398–1413, https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-12-00166.1.

Bluestein, H. B., J. B. Houser, M. M. French, J .C. Snyder, G. D. Emmitt, I. PopStefanija, C. Baldi, and R. T. Bluth, 2014: Observations of the boundary layer near tornadoes and in supercells using a mobile, co-located, pulsed Doppler lidar and radar. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 31, 302–325, https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-13-00112.1.

Snyder, J. C., and H. B. Bluestein, 2014: Some considerations for the use of mobile Doppler radar data for tornado intensity determination. Wea. Forecasting, 29, 799–827, https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-14-00026.1.

Bluestein, H. B., J. C. Snyder, 2015: An observational study of the effects of dry air produced in dissipating convective storms on the predictability of severe weather. Weather and Forecasting, 30, 79–114, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-14-00065.1.

Bluestein, H. B., J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, 2015: A multi-scale overview of the El Reno, Oklahoma, tornadic supercell of 31 May 2013. Weather and Forecasting, 30, 525–552, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-14-00152.1.

Houser, J. L., H. B. Bluestein, J. C. Snyder, 2015: Rapid-scan, polarimetric, Doppler radar observations of tornadogenesis and tornado dissipation in a tornadic supercell: the “El Reno, Oklahoma” storm of 24 May 2011. Monthly Weather Review, 143, 2685–2710, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-14-00253.1.

Snyder, J., A. Ryzhkov, 2015: Automated detection of polarimetric tornadic debris signatures using a hydrometeor classification algorithm. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 54, 1861–1870.

Snyder, J. C., A. V. Ryzhkov, M. R. Kumjian, A. P. Khain, J. C. Picca, 2015: A ZDR column detection algorithm to examine convective storm updrafts. Weather and Forecasting, 30, 1819–1844, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-15-0068.1.

Wakimoto, R. M., N. T. Atkins, K. M. Butler, H. B. Bluestein, K. Thiem, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, 2015: Photogrammetric analysis of the 2013 El Reno tornado combined with mobile X-band polarimetric radar data. Monthly Weather Review, 143, 2657–2683, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-15-0034.1.

Bluestein, H. B., M. M. French, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, 2016: Doppler Radar Observations of Anticyclonic Tornadoes in Cyclonically Rotating, Right-Moving Supercells. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 1591–1616, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-15-0304.1.

Carlin, J. T., A. V. Ryzhkov, J. C. Snyder, A. Khain, 2016: Hydrometeor Mixing Ratio Retrievals for Storm-Scale Radar Data Assimilation: Utility of Current Relations and Potential Benefits of Polarimetry. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 2981–3001, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-15-0423.1.

Houser, J. B., H. B. Bluestein, J. C. Snyder, 2016: A finescale radar examination of the tornadic debris signature and weak-echo reflectivity band associated with a large, violent tornado. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 4101–4130, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-15-0408.1.

Wakimoto, R. M., N. T. Atkins, K. M. Butler, H. B. Bluestein, K. Thiem, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, J. Wurman, 2016: Aerial Damage Survey of the 2013 El Reno Tornado Combined with Mobile Radar Data. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 1749–1776, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-15-0367.1.

Bluestein, H. B., Z. B. Wienhoff, D. D. Turner, D. W. Reif, J. C. Snyder, K. J. Thiem, J. B. Houser, 2017: A comparison of the finescale structures of a prefrontal wind-shift line and a strong cold front in the southern plains of the United States. Monthly Weather Review, 145, 3307–3330, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-16-0403.1.

Carlin, J. T., J. Gao, J. C. Snyder, A. V. Ryzhkov, 2017: Assimilation of ZDR Columns for Improving the Spinup and Forecast of Convective Storms in Storm-Scale Models: Proof-of-Concept Experiments. Monthly Weather Review, 145, 5033–5057, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-17-0103.1.

Kuster, C. M., P. L. Heinselman, J. C. Snyder, K. A. Wilson, D. A. Speheger, J. E. Hocker, 2017: An Evaluation of Radar-Based Tornado Track Estimation Products by Oklahoma Public Safety Officials. Weather and Forecasting, 32, 1711–1726, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-17-0031.1.

Snyder, J. C., H. B. Bluestein, D. T. Dawson, Y. Jung, 2017: Simulations of polarimetric, X-band radar signatures in supercells. Part I: Description of experiment and simulated ρhv rings. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 56, 1977–1999, doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0138.1.

Snyder, J. C., H. B. Bluestein, D. T. Dawson, Y. Jung, 2017: Simulations of polarimetric, X-band radar signatures in supercells. Part II: ZDR columns and rings and KDP columns. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 56, 2001–2026, doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0139.1.

Trömel, S., A. V. Ryzhkov, M. Diederich, K. Mühlbauer, S. Kneifel, J. C. Snyder, C. Simmer, 2017: Multisensor characterization of mammatus. Monthly Weather Review, 145, 235–251, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-16-0187.1.

Bluestein, H. B., K. J. Thiem, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, 2018: The multiple-vortex structure of the El Reno, Oklahoma, tornado on 31 May 2013. Monthly Weather Review, 146, 2483–2502, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-18-0073.1.

Griffin, C. B., C. C. Weiss, A. E. Reinhart, J. C. Snyder, H. B. Bluestein, J. Wurman, K. A. Kosiba, 2018: In situ and radar observations of the low reflectivity ribbon in supercells during VORTEX2. Monthly Weather Review, 146, 307–327, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-17-0201.1.

Ilotoviz, E., A. Khain, A. Ryzhkov, J. Snyder, 2018: Relationship between aerosols, hail microphysics, and Zdr columns. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 75, 1755–1781.

Wienhoff, Z. B., H. B. Bluestein, L. J. Wicker, J. C. Snyder, A. Shapiro, C. K. Potvin, J. B. Houser, D. W. Reif, 2018: Applications of a Spatially Variable Advection Correction Technique for Temporal Correction of Dual-Doppler Analyses of Tornadic Supercells. Monthly Weather Review, 146, 2949–2971, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-17-0360.1.

Witt, A., D. W. Burgess, A. Seimon, J. T. Allen, J. C. Snyder, H. B. Bluestein, 2018: Rapid-Scan Radar Observations of an Oklahoma Tornadic Hailstorm Producing Giant Hail. Weather and Forecasting, 33, 1263–1282, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-18-0003.1.

Bluestein, H. B., K. J. Thiem, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, 2019: Tornadogenesis and early tornado evolution in the El Reno, Oklahoma, supercell on 31 May 2013. Monthly Weather Review, 147, 2045–2066, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-18-0338.1.

Hu, J., D. Rosenfeld, D. Zrnic, E. Williams, P. Zhang, A. Ryzhkov, J. Snyder, E. Hashimoshoni, R. Weitz, 2019: Tracking and characterization of convective cells through their maturation into stratiform storm elements using polarimetric radar and lightning detection. Atmospheric Research, Volume 226, 192–207, doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.04.015.

Hu, J., D. Rosenfeld, A. Ryzhkov, D. Zrnic, E. Williams, J. C. Snyder, R. Zhang, R. Weitz, 2019: Polarimetric radar convective cell tracking reveals large sensitivity of cloud precipitation and electrification properties to CCN. Journal of Geophysical Research, 124, doi:10.1029/2019JD030857.

Kuster, C. M., J. C. Snyder, T. J. Schuur, T. T. Lindley, P. L. Heinselman, J. C. Furtado, J. W. Brogden, R. Toomey, 2019: Rapid-Update Radar Observations of ZDR Column Depth and Its Use in the Warning Decision Process. Weather and Forecasting, 34, 1173–1188, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-19-0024.1.

Shpund, J., A. Khain, B. Lynn, J. Fan, B. Han, A. Ryzhkov, J. Snyder, J. Dudhia, D. Gill, 2019: Simulating a Mesoscale Convective System Using WRF With a New Spectral Bin Microphysics: 1: Hail vs Graupel. Journal of Geophysical Research, 124, 14072–14101, doi:10.1029/2019JD030576.

Honerkamp, R., G. Yan, J. C. Snyder, 2020: A review of the characteristics of tornadic wind fields through observations and simulations. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 202, 104195, 1–23, doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2020.104195.

Houser, J. B., N. McGinnis, K. M. Butler, H. B. Bluestein, J. C. Snyder, M. M. French, 2020: Statistical and Empirical Relationships between Tornado Intensity and Both Topography and Land Cover Using Rapid-Scan Radar Observations and a GIS. Monthly Weather Review, 148, 4313–4338, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-19-0407.1.

Kuster, C. M., T. J. Schuur, T. T. Lindley, J. C. Snyder, 2020: Using ZDR Columns in Forecaster Conceptual Models and Warning Decision Making. Weather and Forecasting, 35, 2507–2522, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-20-0083.1.

Ryzhkov, A., J. Snyder, J. T. Carlin, A. Khain, M. Pinsky, 2020: What polarimetric weather radars offer to cloud modelers: Forward radar operators and microphysical / thermodynamic retrievals. Atmosphere, 11, doi:10.3390/atmos11040362.

Snyder, J. C., H. B. Bluestein, Z. B. Wienhoff, C. M. Kuster, D. W. Reif, 2020: An Analysis of an Ostensible Anticyclonic Tornado from 9 May 2016 Using High-Resolution, Rapid-Scan Radar Data. Weather and Forecasting, 35, 1685–1712, doi:10.1175/WAF-D-20-0055.1.

Tuftedal, K. S., M. M. French, D. M. Kingfield, J. C. Snyder, 2021: Observed Bulk Hook Echo Drop Size Distribution Evolution in Supercell Tornadogenesis and Tornadogenesis Failure. Monthly Weather Review, 149, 2539–2557, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-20-0353.1.

Houser, J. L., H. B. Bluestein, K. Thiem, J. C. Snyder, D. Reif, Z. Wienhoff, 2022: Additional Evaluation of the Spatiotemporal Evolution of Rotation during Tornadogenesis Using Rapid-Scan Mobile Radar Observations. Monthly Weather Review, 150, 1639–1666, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-21-0227.1.

Ho, J., G. Zhang, P. Bukovcic, D. Parsons, F. Xu, J. Gao, J. Carlin, J. Snyder, 2023: Improving Polarimetric Radar-based Drop Size Distribution Retrieval and Rain Estimation using Deep Neural Network. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 24, 2057–2073, doi:10.1175/JHM-D-22-0166.1.

Pavlos, K., G. M. McFarquhar, E. Bruning, P. J. DeMott, M. R. Kumjian, P. Lawson, Z. Lebo, T. Logan, K. Lombardo, M. Oue, G. Roberts, R. A. Shaw, S. C. van den Heever, M. Wolde, K. R. Berry, D. Bodine, R. Bruintjes, V. Chandrasekar, A. Dzambo, T. C. Hill, M. Jensen, F. Junyent, S. M. Kreidenweis, K. Lamer, E. Luke, A. Bansemer, C. McCluskey, L. Nichman, C. Nguyen, R. J. Patnaude, R. J. Perkins, H. Powers, K. Ranjbar, E. Roux, J. Snyder, B. P. Treserras, P. Tsai, N. A. Wales, C. Wolf, N. Allwayin, B. Ascher, J. Barr, Y. Hu, Y. Huang, M. Litzmann, Z. Mages, K. McKeown, S. Patil, E. Rosky, K. Tuftedal, M. Tzeng, Z. Zhu, 2025: Experiment of Sea Breeze Convection, Aerosols, Precipitation, and Environment (ESCAPE). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 106, E310–E332, doi:https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0014.1.

Pehl, J., G. McFarquhar, J. Snyder, J. Furtado, 2025: Exploring Impacts of Differing Aerosol Environments on Radar Signatures of Deep Convection near Houston, Texas, using a Bulk Statistical Framework. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 82, 749–773, doi:https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-24-0008.1.

Wood, V. T., R. P. Davies-Jones, J. C. Snyder, L. J. Hopper Jr., 2025: Doppler Circulation and Areal Contraction Rate as Detected and Measured by a Phased-Array Radar: The El Reno, Oklahoma, Tornado of 31 May 2013. Monthly Weather Review, 153, 491–520, doi:https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-23-0110.1.