Doppler-radar analysis of a meso-anticyclone observed in an elevated, multicell convective storm complex over central Oklahoma in the morning

On the morning of 2 Oct. 2014, elevated, multi-cell convective storms formed ahead of, but not along, a cold front in central Oklahoma. It is suspected that these storms may have been initiated by bores that were triggered as the front propagated into a layer of stable air near the surface and were first seen as altocumulus castellanus. In this study, we provide documentation of the formation of a midlevel meso-anticyclone along the southeastern edge of a small complex of storms that developed around Norman, OK. Photographs and data collected by a rapid-scan, polarimetric Doppler radar (RaXPol), and data collected by a nearby WSR-88D radar (KTLX), are discussed. It is hypothesized that this anticyclonic vortex is similar to one of the bookend vortices produced in MCSs. Fig. 1. RaXPol radar reflectivity data, showing an anticyclonic hook echo (lower right) at 18 deg elevation angle. Range markers are shown every 1 km.