The Near Storm Environments and Radar Characteristics of Tornado Warnings for NWS WFO Columbia, SC

The wide range of behaviors, convective modes, and environmental characteristics of tornadoes across the Southeastern United States increases the difficulty of the warning process and continues to drive research and operational interests. To address the role these unique conditions impose on warning verification and performance, a database of radar and environmental characteristics for all tornado warnings and tornado occurrences was compiled for the NWS Columbia, SC, County Warning Area. General climatological and storm mode verification statistics were compiled, along with classification by near-storm environment and radar depiction. Little statistical differences were observed for most near-storm environmental parameters when comparing false alarm warnings, verified warnings, and missed events. The radar velocity characteristics of each storm tended to provide the largest, albeit still small, differences between tornado and non-tornadic events. The most statistically significant differences in radar appearance were noted in maximum mesocyclone rotational velocity during an entire storm’s lifecycle, but the differences observed would have little operational impact when applied to warning decision making. This study suggests that since 2013, the Columbia WFO has performed well in tornado detection and false alarm rate from a near storm environmental standpoint, largely due to a lack of warnings issued in unfavorable environments.