An Analysis of Terminal Doppler Weather and Phased Array Radar Velocity and Reflectivity Signatures of the 20 May 2013, Moore, Oklahoma Tornado

On 20 May 2013, a single supercell thunderstorm in central Oklahoma produced a tornado that touched down west of Moore, rapidly intensifying and attaining EF4 intensity within 3 minutes and eventually EF5 intensity. The deadly tornado stayed on the ground for about 40 minutes over a 23-km path, tearing through a heavily populated section of Moore, killing 24 people and injuring scores of others. This preliminary study describes the evolution of the tornado using the Oklahoma City Terminal Doppler Weather Radar located south of Moore and the Phased Array Radar located in Norman. The objective of the study is to analyze and compare the detailed high-resolution Doppler velocity and reflectivity signatures in and around the tornado as viewed simultaneously from two different radars.