![\"GOES-16](\"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/images\/2020\/05\/200507_goes16_visible_spcStormReports_TX_v2_anim.gif\")
<\/a>GOES-16 “Red” Visible (0.64 \u00b5m)<\/em> images, with time-matched SPC Storm Reports plotted in red [click to play animation | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>As a follow-on to this blog post<\/strong><\/a>, we will examine the period following convective initiation and take a closer look at the isolated supercell thunderstorm as it produced a long swath of large hail across far northern Texas on 07 May 2020<\/strong><\/a>. 1-minute Mesoscale Domain Sector<\/strong><\/a> GOES-16 (GOES-East)<\/em> “Red” Visible (0.64 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) images with plots of time-matched SPC Storm Reports<\/strong><\/a> (above)<\/strong><\/em> revealed pulsing overshooting tops as the storm produced hail as large as 3.25 inches in diameter.<\/p>\n In the corresponding GOES-16 “Clean” Infrared Window (10.35 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) images (below)<\/strong>,<\/em> the pulsing overshooting tops exhibited infrared brightness temperatures in the -70 to -80\u00baC range (black to white enhancement)<\/em>.<\/p>\n GOES-16 “Clean” Infrared Window (10.35 \u00b5m)<\/em> images, with time-matched SPC Storm Reports plotted in cyan [click to play animation | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>In a plot of 00 UTC rawinsonde data from Amarillo, Texas (below)<\/strong><\/em> the tropopause temperature was -61.7\u00baC at the 192 hPa (12.4 km) level — warming was seen directly above the tropopause, but then air temperatures cooled to the -60 to -70\u00baC range within the 122-100 hPa (15.2-16.3 km) layer. Judging from their infrared brightness temperatures, the overshooting tops likely penetrated into those higher levels.<\/p>\n Plot of 00 UTC rawinsonde data from Amarillo, Texas [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>Slightly longer animations of full-bit-depth GOES-16 Visible and Infrared images from AWIPS (below)<\/strong><\/em> showed the storm-top features in better detail. One low-level feature of interest was the brief formation of inflow feeder bands along the southwest flank of the storm during the 0015-0035 time period (rocking animation<\/strong><\/a>). The gradual north-northwestward flow of hazy, more humid boundary layer air was also apparent (which likely aided and helped to sustain convective development).<\/p>\n GOES-16 “Red” Visible (0.64 \u00b5m)<\/em> and “Clean” Infrared Window (10.35 \u00b5m)<\/em> images [click to play animation | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>A prominent and long-lived Above-Anvil Cirrus Plume<\/strong><\/a> (AACP) was seen with this severe thunderstorm — a toggle between GOES-16 Visible and Infrared images at 0105 UTC is shown below. The AACP appeared to exhibit colder<\/em> infrared brightness temperatures, in agreement with the Amarillo rawinsonde profile at the highest altitudes.<\/p>\n GOES-16 “Red” Visible (0.64 \u00b5m)<\/em> and “Clean” Infrared Window (10.35 \u00b5m)<\/em> images at 0105 UTC [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>GOES-16 Visible images with and without an overlay of GLM<\/strong><\/a> Flash Extent Density (below)<\/strong><\/em> showed how electrically active the storm was. The lighting activity began at 2134 UTC, 1 minute after the cloud-top infrared brightness temperature first became -60\u00baC or colder.<\/p>\n GOES-16 “Red” Visible (0.64 \u00b5m)<\/em> images, with and without an overlay of GLM Flash Extent Density [click to play animation | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n GOES-17 also viewed the storm development, albeit at a 10-minute time increment because west Texas sits outside of GOES-17’s ‘CONUS’ domain<\/a>. GOES-17’s more oblique view from the allows the satellite to see more structure on the western flank of the system, particularly beneath the cirrus shield! (Click here <\/a>for a faster animation)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
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