Orographic precipitation observations during SCHUSS IOP8

From 22 October to 21 November 2011 the University of Utah Atmospheric Sciences Department used a portable, dual-polarized Doppler weather radar (DOW6) provided by the Center for Severe Weather Research and the National Science Foundation as part of Storm CHasing Utah Style Study (SCHUSS). During Intensive Observing Period 8 (IOP8) on 18 November 2011, we used DOW6 to examine orographic precipitation processes as a cold front moved through the Salt Lake Valley and the adjoining Wasatch Mountains. The DOW was sited to provide detailed observations in and around Little Cottonwood Canyon, one of the snowiest locations in the interior United States. Also available for our analysis was data from a 24GHz vertically pointing Micro Rain Radar and a hydrometeor videosonde (HYVIS) snowflake camera system, both located near crest level in the mountains. These unique data sets, when coupled with snow water equivalent measurements and other traditional weather data sets, allow us to describe and classify the orographic enhancement observed within this largely synoptic precipitation event.