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Severe thunderstorms in Arizona

By Scott Bachmeier •

GOES-11 (left), GOES-15 (center), and GOES-13 (right) visible images

GOES-11 (left), GOES-15 (center), and GOES-13 (right) Visible images

Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms moved northward across southern Arizona on 05 October 2010, producing hail as large as 2.5 inches in diameter, wind gusts as high as 75 mph, and rainfall in excess of 2 inches at some locations (SPC Storm Reports). According to NWS Phoenix, the 2.5 inch diameter hail was some of the largest hail ever reported in Arizona.

A 3-panel comparison of Visible channel images from GOES-11, GOES-15, and GOES-13 (above) showed the large clusters of convection, some of which moved through the Phoenix area (station identifier PHX). After 18:30 UTC, the GOES-11 satellite was placed into Rapid Scan Operations (RSO) mode, allowing images as frequently as every 5-7 minutes (in contrast to the standard operational 15-minute image interval on GOES-15 and GOES-13).

A comparison of GOES-11 Visible (0.65 µm) and Infrared Window (10.7 µm) images is shown below.

GOES-11 Visible (0.65 µm, left) and Infrared Window (10.7 µm, right) images [click to play animation | MP4]

GOES-11 Visible (0.65 µm, left) and Infrared Window (10.7 µm, right) images [click to play animation | MP4]

MODIS Visible (0.65 µm) and Infrared Window (11.0 µm) images (below) showed a closer view of the storms at 21:01 UTC or 3:01 pm local time. MODIS cloud-top infrared brightness temperatures were as cold as -61ºC (darker red color enhancement). Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, severe reports of hail and wind, and surface METAR reports are also overlaid on the MODIS images.

MODIS 0.65 µm visible and 11.0 µm IR Window images

MODIS Visible (0.65 µm) and Infrared Window (11.0 µm) images [click to enlarge]

The POES AVHRR Cloud Top Temperature (CTT) product (below) displayed a minimum CTT value of -63ºC just southeast of Chandler/Williams Air Force Base (station identifier KIWA) at 21:28 UTC or 3:28 pm local time.

POES AVHRR Cloud Top Temperature product

POES AVHRR Cloud Top Temperature product [click to enlarge]

Categories: AVHRR, GOES-11, GOES-13, GOES-15, Lightning, MODIS, POES, Severe convection