A Preliminary Assessment of the Environmental and Radar Characteristics of Tornadic and Non-tornadic Mesovortices Associated with QLCSs

Numerous studies in the mid and upper Mississippi River Valley have documented the occurrence of tornadoes, some producing damage rated as high as F2, along the leading edge of quasi-linear convective systems (QLCSs). These types of tornadoes are particularly challenging for meteorologists tasked with providing warnings since they frequently develop quite rapidly and in a non-descending mode. Thus, traditional tornado warning methodologies developed for supercell thunderstorms are not entirely applicable in these events.

In this study, we will diagnose the synoptic and mesoscale environments within which these QLCSs occur. Additionally, radar data will be analyzed to determine the charateristics of the QLCSs and the characteristics of the mesovortices associated with them with the goal of determining what observational clues could provide utility in the warning process.