Evolution of a Tornadic Supercell and its Environment Sampled by the NWRT Phased Array Radar and Oklahoma City Micronet

The National Weather Radar Testbed Phased Array Radar (NWRT PAR) sampled a cyclic, tornadic supercell on 10 February 2009 as it moved northeast across the western side of Oklahoma City. During its lifetime the storm moved over the Oklahoma City Micronet (OKCNET) and Oklahoma Mesonet stations. The rapid updates of the NWRT PAR and the highspatial and temporal resolution of the OKCNET, collected near a high–population center, make this a unique event. Low–level analyses of these data show the storm exhibited cyclic tornadogenesis; two cycles of the supercell were examined in this study. After the tornado associated with the first cycle lifted, a new circulation formed along a bulge in the rear flank gust front. During both cycles of the supercell, a number of small cells developed south of the supercell and merged with the storm. This study documents the evolution and characteristics of these cells as they merge with the main supercell. These mergers often disrupted the organization of the hook echo.