Lightning Cessation Characteristics between Severe and Nonsevere Storms Using Polarimetric Radar Data

Polarimetric radar data are used to study lightning cessation characteristics for severe and nonsevere thunderstorm cells for the Washington, D.C., area. Total lightning data for the storms are obtained from the Washington, D.C., Lightning Mapping Array (DCLMA). Storms are tracked using the Warning Decision Support System–Integrated Information (WDSS-II) software, producing time series of radar- and lightning-derived parameters. Trends in polarimetric radar parameters, such as graupel characteristics, at different temperature levels are compared between severe and nonsevere storms near the end of their lightning activity.