Analysis of the 11 June 2003 Mesoscale Convective Vortex Genesis using Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D)

Mesoscale convective vortices (MCVs), which typically form within the stratiform rain of some mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), may persist for days, often regenerating convection daily. Long-lived MCVs can produce as much precipitation as a landfalling hurricane and lead to catastrophic flooding. The number of studies using multi-Doppler radar observations for validation of the kinematics, or three-dimensional (3-D) wind structure, of MCV genesis is limited. For this study, the Oklahoma City (KTLX) and Tulsa, Oklahoma (KINX) Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) were used to examine the genesis of a long-lived MCV from 0000 UTC to 0700 UTC on 11 June 2003. Traditional dual-Doppler (KTLX-KINX) and synthetic dual-Doppler (KTLX) techniques are used to estimate the 3-D wind field. To relate MCV genesis within the stratiform region of the associated larger MCS, vertical profiles of vorticity and divergence are created from the 3-D wind field. Contoured-frequency-with-altitude diagrams (CFADs) of reflectivity, wind direction and magnitude, divergence, vorticity, and vertical velocity are also created to quantitatively document the strengthening of the MCV from genesis. The results of this study provide a detailed eight hour examination for the initiation and early evolution of a long-lived MCV and can provide model validation of MCV generation.