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High-altitude turbulence over the Southern Plains

By Scott Bachmeier •

GOES-16 Upper-level Water Vapor (6.2 µm) images, with pilot reports of turbulence (cyan) — with and without contours of RAP40 model Maximum Wind Speed (yellow) [click to play animated GIF | MP4]

GOES-16 (GOES-East) Upper-level Water Vapor (6.2 µm) images with pilot reports of turbulence — with and without contours of RAP40 model Maximum Wind Speed (above) showed an anomalously-deep 500 hPa trough over the Southern Plains, where there was an anomalously-strong 250 hPa jet streak developing along its forward (eastern) edge. A number of pilot reports of moderate to severe turbulence were seen within the exit region of this jet streak.

In GOES-16 Upper-level Water Vapor images with and without an overlay of a Turbulence Probability product (below), higher probability values were apparent in the area near/along the axis of the 250 hPa jet streak (and the related pilot reports of turbulence).

GOES-16 Upper-level Water Vapor (6.2 µm) images, with pilot reports of turbulence (cyan) — with and without an overlay of Turbulence Probability [click to play animated GIF | MP4]

Categories: Aviation, GOES-16