Editorial Type:
Picture of the Month
Article Type:
Research Article

Photographic Documentation and Environmental Analysis of an Intense, Anticyclonic Supercell on the Colorado Plains

Roger Edwards Storm Prediction Center, Norman, Oklahoma

Search for other papers by Roger Edwards in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
Stephen J. Hodanish National Weather Service, Pueblo, Colorado

Search for other papers by Stephen J. Hodanish in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Dec 2006
Collections:
Pictures of the Month in Monthly Weather Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR3296.1
Page(s):
3753–3763
Restricted access

Abstract

Anticyclonic left-moving supercells are observed each year in the United States, emanating both discretely and from storm splitting processes. Such thunderstorms often produce severe hail and wind gusts and, on rare occasion, tornadoes. The body of documentary literature on this subset of supercells is relatively scant compared with right-moving storms, and this is especially true regarding visual characteristics and conceptual models. Here a characteristic example of the anticyclonic supercell is presented using an intense and well-defined specimen that passed over Aroya, Colorado, on 15 June 2002. Photographic and radar documentation is provided in original and mirrored forms, for aid in conceptualizing the left-moving supercell and associated structures and processes. A summary overview is presented of the environment, development, evolution, and effects of this remotely located but noteworthy event.

Corresponding author address: Roger Edwards, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Center, 120 Boren Blvd. #2300, Norman, OK 73069. Email: roger.edwards@noaa.gov

Abstract

Anticyclonic left-moving supercells are observed each year in the United States, emanating both discretely and from storm splitting processes. Such thunderstorms often produce severe hail and wind gusts and, on rare occasion, tornadoes. The body of documentary literature on this subset of supercells is relatively scant compared with right-moving storms, and this is especially true regarding visual characteristics and conceptual models. Here a characteristic example of the anticyclonic supercell is presented using an intense and well-defined specimen that passed over Aroya, Colorado, on 15 June 2002. Photographic and radar documentation is provided in original and mirrored forms, for aid in conceptualizing the left-moving supercell and associated structures and processes. A summary overview is presented of the environment, development, evolution, and effects of this remotely located but noteworthy event.

Corresponding author address: Roger Edwards, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Center, 120 Boren Blvd. #2300, Norman, OK 73069. Email: roger.edwards@noaa.gov

Save
Cover Monthly Weather Review
Monthly Weather Review

  • Bluestein, H. B., E. W. McCaul Jr., G. P. Byrd, G. R. Woodall, G. Martin, S. Keighton, and L. C. Showell, 1989: Mobile sounding observations of a thunderstorm near the dryline: The Gruver, Texas storm complex of 25 May 1987. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117 , 244–250.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Brock, F. V., K. C. Crawford, R. L. Elliott, G. W. Cuperus, S. J. Stadler, H. L. Johnson, and M. D. Eilts, 1995: The Oklahoma Mesonet: A technical overview. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 12 , 5–19.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bunkers, M. J., 2002: Vertical wind shear associated with left-moving supercells. Wea. Forecasting, 17 , 845–855.

  • Davies-Jones, R. P., 1986: Tornado dynamics. Thunderstorm Morphology and Dynamics, 2d ed., E. Kessler, Ed., University of Oklahoma Press, 197–236.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dostalek, J. F., J. F. Weaver, and G. L. Phillips, 2004: Aspects of a tornadic left-moving thunderstorm on 25 May 1999. Wea. Forecasting, 19 , 614–626.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Doswell III, C. A., and E. N. Rasmussen, 1994: The effect of neglecting the virtual temperature correction on CAPE calculations. Wea. Forecasting, 9 , 625–629.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dowell, D. C., and H. B. Bluestein, 2002: The 8 June 1995 McLean, Texas, storm. Part II: Cyclic tornado formation, maintenance, and dissipation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 130 , 2649–2670.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Edwards, R., R. L. Thompson, and C. M. Mead, 2004: Assessment of anticyclonic supercell environments using close proximity soundings from the RUC model. Preprints, 22d Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Hyannis, MA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., CD-ROM, P1.2.

  • Klemp, J. B., and R. B. Wilhelmson, 1978: Simulations of right- and left-moving storms produced through storm splitting. J. Atmos. Sci., 35 , 1097–1110.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lemon, L. R., and C. A. Doswell III, 1979: Severe thunderstorm evolution and mesocyclone structure as related to tornadogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 107 , 1184–1197.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lenning, E., H. E. Fuelberg, and A. I. Watson, 1998: An evaluation of WSR-88D severe hail algorithms along the northeastern Gulf Coast. Wea. Forecasting, 13 , 1029–1044.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Markowski, P. M., E. N. Rasmussen, and J. M. Straka, 1998: The occurrence of tornadoes in supercells interacting with boundaries during VORTEX-95. Wea. Forecasting, 13 , 852–859.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mathews, G. N., and T. J. Turnage, 2000: An example of a left-split supercell producing 5-inch hail: The Big Spring, Texas, storm of 10 May 1996. Preprints, 20th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Orlando, FL, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 526–529.

  • Moller, A. R., C. A. Doswell III, M. P. Foster, and G. R. Woodall, 1994: The operational recognition of supercell thunderstorm environments and storm structure. Wea. Forecasting, 9 , 327–347.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Monteverdi, J. P., W. Blier, G. J. Stumpf, W. Pi, and K. Anderson, 2001: First WSR-88D documentation of an anticyclonic supercell with anticyclonic tornadoes: The Sunnyvale–Los Altos, California, tornadoes of 4 May 1998. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129 , 2805–2814.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Nielsen-Gammon, J. W., and W. L. Read, 1995: Detection and interpretation of left-moving severe thunderstorms using the WSR-88D: A case study. Wea. Forecasting, 10 , 127–140.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Paruk, B. J., and S. R. Blackwell, 1994: A severe thunderstorm climatology for Alberta. Natl. Wea. Dig., 19 , 27–33.

  • Pietrycha, A. E., and M. Fox, 2004: Effective use of various communication methods during a severe convective outbreak. Natl. Wea. Dig., 28 , 59–64.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Thompson, R. L., R. Edwards, J. A. Hart, K. L. Elmore, and P. M. Markowski, 2003: Close proximity soundings within supercell environments obtained from the Rapid Update Cycle. Wea. Forecasting, 18 , 1243–1261.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wakimoto, R. M., and B. E. Martner, 1992: Observations of a Colorado tornado. Part II: Combined photogrammetric and Doppler radar analysis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120 , 522–543.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Weisman, M. L., and J. B. Klemp, 1982: The dependence of numerically simulated convective storms on vertical wind shear and buoyancy. Mon. Wea. Rev., 110 , 504–520.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Winston, H. A., 1988: A comparison of three radar-based severe storm detection algorithms on Colorado High Plains thunderstorms. Wea. Forecasting, 3 , 131–140.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Witt, A., M. D. Eilts, G. J. Stumpf, E. D. Mitchell, J. T. Johnson, and K. W. Thomas, 1998: Evaluating the performance of WSR-88D severe storm detection algorithms. Wea. Forecasting, 13 , 513–518.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 16969 15502 337
PDF Downloads 261 78 5