Monthly Archives: May 2016

WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 13

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Before our morning forecast discussion, Flavia Moraes presented her thesis defense on mesoscale convective complexes in southern Brazil (Figure 1). She did a fantastic job presenting incredibly interesting research on how these complexes form and what conditions they form under; … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 12

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Models indicated this morning that a much deeper surface low would coalesce by the afternoon as a shortwave ejected northeastward along an upper-level trough. This low would be the deepest and most organized of the trip, and as a result … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 11

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Much weaker low pressure and the presence of much weaker and more diffuse boundaries meant today would likely be a slow day for storms across our target region, although instability and mid-level shear would be enough to support supercell development … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 10

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Words cannot describe the feelings I experienced today. I could say I was awe-inspired, and it would not be enough. I could say I was terrified, and it would not be enough. I could say I was exhilarated, and it … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 9

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Morning observations identified a weak surface low over the extreme western Oklahoma Panhandle as a result of a shortwave trough rotating through the region that would provide some convergence and an anchor for the dryline draped in a southwest-northeast fashion … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 8

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Morning model data indicated a broad area of severe risk, but two specific areas of interest became clear to us. A surface low began to form overnight in northeast Colorado as a result of the upper-level trough moving in from … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 7

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

A forecast discussion last night in partnership with College of DuPage at our hotel pointed out an area of instability ribboning from Amarillo, through southwest Kansas, and north to the Cheyenne Ridge in northeast Colorado. A moisture axis paralleled this … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 6

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Marginal instability and low but sufficient moisture, as well as a moisture boundary moving into eastern Colorado led us to target Colorado Springs this morning. The lack of upper level divergence, lower level convergence, and frontal boundaries forced us to … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 5

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Although morning observations indicated a decent boundary in extreme south Texas and model data suggested sufficient instability to produce thunderstorms, sheer distance and the necessity to set up for our next few events prevented us from traveling there. We instead … Continue reading →

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WKU Storm Chase 2016 – Day 4

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Isaac Bowers

Morning observations indicated a stalled cold front along I-10 corridor, and model data suggested this front would be weakening throughout the day. Therefore, this cold front would become less of a forcing factor in afternoon thunderstorms. Yesterday’s convection along and … Continue reading →

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