Dual-Doppler analyses of two tornadic supercells in central Oklahoma on 19 May 2013 using data from an X-band, mobile radar and an S-band, fixed-site radar

On 19 May, 2013, high temporal and spatial resolution radar observations documenting the formation of tornadoes in two supercells in central Oklahoma (one from Carney-Edmond and the other from Norman -Shawnee) were obtained by a mobile, rapid-scan, X-band, polarimetric radar (RaXPol). Using data from the Twin Lakes WSR-88D and from RaXPol, dual-Doppler analyses were synthesized to estimate the horizontal wind field, as well as the vertical velocity and vertical vorticity fields, in both tornadic supercells. The preliminary results from these analyses will be shown. The case studies are focused on the evolution of the low-level mesocyclone, which will be compared with that from other case studies. In addition, polarimetric variables and their relationship to the three-dimensional wind field will be examined.

Several different ways of combining RaXPol and KTLX data for objective analysis are examined owing to significant differences in spatial and temporal resolutions between the two radars. The evaluation seeks to identify the most accurate way to synthesize the data for analysis given the large differences in volume collection times between the S-band and rapid-scan, X-band radars. These analyses are believed to be some of the first dual-Doppler syntheses using both S-band and rapid-scan, X-band of a tornadic supercell.