A dual polarimetric and total lightning review of significant weather events across the Tennessee Valley from late March through early May 2009

Multiple significant weather episodes occurred across the Tennessee Valley during the closing days of March through early May. Several events pummeled the Tennessee Valley, ranging from tornadic squall lines and supercells to low topped non-tornadic supercells,and even a damaging wake low wind event. These events occurred in the UAH/NSSTC Center and Hazardous Weather Testbed, which includes the Advanced Radar for Meteorological and Operational Research (ARMOR) C-band radar, as well as, 3-dimensional VHF total lightning mapping using the North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array. Dual-polarimetric variables are used to diagnose radar signatures associated with severe thunderstorms (e.g., tornadic debris, large hail), while total lightning information is used to infer the updraft evolution and potential severity of of several thunderstorms.