Airborne dual-Doppler radar observations of a bow echo over Minnesota on 3 July 2003 during BAMEX

A Doppler radar analysis of a severe bow echo event that moved through central and southern Minnesota on 3 July 2003 during the Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) Experiment (BAMEX) is presented. A bow echo formed just north of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and produced a continuous swath of severe wind damage greater than 100 km in length as noted by severe weather reports. Airborne dual-Doppler radar analyses revealed the formation of multiple low-level mesovortices including a primary vortex just north of the bow apex. The primary mesovortex was associated with a strong updraft and coincided with the strongest low-level winds. Similarities and differences between this system and those previously discussed in other BAMEX studies will be presented.