Extended Abstract (720K)P12.7
Mesocyclone and RFD induced damaging winds observed in the 27 May 2004 southwest Ohio supercell
John T. DiStefano, NOAA/NWSFO, Wilmington, OH
During the early evening hours of 27 May 2004, in an environment classified by moderate instability and shear, a supercell developed in rather close proximity to the Wilmington, Ohio WSR-88D (KILN). Although this supercell was responsible for producing two brief, but weak tornadoes (F0 and F1), it was the preponderance of damaging winds that marked this storm. High resolution 8-bit base reflectivity and velocity data from the Wilmington WSR-88D revealed direct correlation between both the low-level mesocyclone and the rear flank downdraft (RFD) with areas of non-tornadic damaging winds. Storm-scale analysis will show that at a range as close as 10 nm to KILN, the low-level mesocyclone, as viewed via the 0.5 degree elevation angle, extended down to 600 ft AGL. Inference could be made here for the low-level mesocyclone making contact with the ground. The RFD is then shown to wrap out ahead of the low-level mesocyclone, and becomes a dominant source for damaging winds.
Poster Session 12, Case Studies
Thursday, 9 November 2006, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM, Pre-Convene Space
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