McIDAS images of 4-km resolution GOES-12 10.7 µm IR channel data (above; click image to play animation) showed the development of a very large mesoscale convective system (MCS) over Argentina on 07 February 2012. A number of smaller, discrete thunderstorms initially began to develop around 14:45 UTC, which then eventually... Read More

A major outbreak of severe thunderstorms along a strong cold frontal boundary swept eastward across much of the southeastern US on 22 January – 23 January 2012, producing widespread damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes (Read More

 McIDAS images of 8-km resolution GOES-11 6.7 µm and 4-km resolution GOES-15 6.5 µm water vapor channel data (above) demonstrated the advantage of improved spatial resolution for the detection of features and gradients in the water vapor imagery associated with a weak upper level low moving eastward across the southwestern... Read More

Overshooting tops above a thunderstorm suggest an updraft powerful enough to penetrate through the tropopause into the stratosphere. In mid-latitudes, overshoots are well-correlated with both heavy precipitation and severe weather. In the tropics, overshooting tops are linked to intensification in tropical systems. In the image toggle above of an area of disturbed weather that may become a... Read More