A cluster of thunderstorms developed over the interior of Alaska during the afternoon hours on 04 June 2012, and moved westward across the region — one of the stronger storms produced half-inch size hail in the Fairbanks area. AWIPS images of 375-meter resolution (projected onto a 1-km resolution AWIPS grid)... Read More
A large Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) developed over far northeastern Oklahoma during the pre-dawn hours on 04 June 2012, which eventually produced a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) that moved into northwestern Arkansas the following morning. AWIPS images of 4-km resolution GOES-13 10.7 µm... Read More
Satellite descriptors of the atmosphere over the central High Plains on May 30th suggested an atmosphere ripe for convection. For example, the GOES Sounder DPI Lifted Index showed an axis of instability from central Oklahoma to northwest Kansas, with widespread values (yellows, reds, purples) at or below -4. (The unstable... Read More
Tornadoes are relatively rare in Japan, and the majority of them occur in association with tropical cyclones — but a tornado struck the city of Tsukuba, Japan on 06 May 2012, and was responsible for one fatality, over 40 injuries, and damage (rated F2 to F3) to nearly 500 homes... Read More
