Jamey Singleton, Cable 12, Rocky Mount, VA and Sean Sublette, WSET, Lynchburg, VA
ABSTRACT
WSR 88-D radars have given meteorologists the ability to detect tornadoes with great accuracy, however newer trends show a frightening realization that not all life-threatening severe weather events are warned on. Short-lived gustnadoes may be entirely missed by even highly trained radar meteorologists. Newer technology including instant cell phone digital pictures and video along with time lapse video is now forcing the National Weather Service to rethink their criteria when issuing tornado warnings.
During a synoptic severe weather outbreak on February 24, 2012, a High Definition time lapse camera in Franklin County, VA started rolling at approximately 1:30 PM EST. The camera took one HD frame every two seconds. The HD video shows a rotating, small spin-up gustnado moving right to left across the screen. Converting the 2-second frame intervals to the time on the actual video, data suggests the entire event only lasted 60 seconds from start to finish.
This paper will address the fact that the FCX radar, while in VCP 12 mode did not detect the 60 second gustnado in between the 4 minute sweep on Feb. 24. More importantly the paper addresses the need for Skywarn Spotters, Storm Chasers, and Television Stations to take advantage of newer, relatively inexpensive TIME LAPSE cameras to capture and research these often "missed" events. Events that may be happening more than we originally thought.
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