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Mesoscale Convective Vortex in Texas

By Scott Bachmeier •

vGOES-16

GOES-16 “Red” Visible (0.64 µm) images [click to play animation | MP4]

GOES-16 (GOES-East) “Red” Visible (0.64 µm) images (above) showed the cyclonic circulation of a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) in the Hill Country of Texas (east of San Angelo, KSJT) on 12 May 2020. The animation begins with 5-minute CONUS sector images, then transitions to 1-minute images as a Mesoscale Domain Sector is positioned over the area at 1529 UTC. As the MCV approached a cluster of ongoing convection, a few tornadoes were reported, likely due to the MCV enhancing low-level wind shear (SPC Mesoscale Discussion).

A more subtle signature of the MCV circulation was also evident in GOES-16 Low-level Water Vapor (7.34 µm) images (below).

GOES-16 Low-level Water Vapor (7.34 µm) images [click to play animation | MP4]

GOES-16 Low-level Water Vapor (7.34 µm) images [click to play animation | MP4]

Categories: GOES-16, Severe convection