Coming soon: CSPP Geo software to create LightningCast probability fields
LightningCast probability fields are routinely produced at CIMSS and incorporated into a RealEarth display (LightningCast probability fields are also available in some National Weather Service AWIPS machines). An example of LightningCast is shown below over Southern Florida. Contours show the probability of a GLM observation of lightning within the next 60 minutes: 10% (Blue), 20% (Cyan), 50% (Green), 75% (Magenta).
![](https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/RELightningCastDisplay_2101_to_2156_16January2024anim.gif)
Scientists/Programmers at CIMSS are working on a CSPP Geo package that will create LightningCast probability fields, both current and historical. The software has the ability to subsect data, so full-disk (or full-CONUS for GOES-16 or full-PACUS for GOES-18) imagery need not be created. An example of the output for the same times and location as the RealEarth display is shown below.
![](https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/PLTG_GOES-16_CONUS_20240116-2101_to_2156anim.gif)
The animation below stacks both the CSPPGeo and RealEarth output. There are minor differences that are being investigated.
![](https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/StackRE_CSPPCompareLightningCastDisplay_2101_to_2156_16January2024anim.gif)
If you are at the AMS 2024 Meeting in Baltimore at the end of January, you can learn more about LighningCast at this talk on Thursday, 4:45-5 PM, in room 336. A LightningCast Probability QuickGuide is available here.