Recently, radar researchers have proposed that high-resolution, near-surface refractivity measurements have the potential of becoming an important tool for operational forecasting and general scientific studies. This paper shares findings from the Spring 2007 KTLX Refractivity Experiment (KRE) in which operational forecasters at the Norman Weather Forecast Office evaluated the usefulness of refractivity retrievals over approximately a two-month period (13 April–22 June 2007). The spring-time evaluation period allowed forecasters the opportunity to assess the benefits and limitations of the refractivity retrievals under a variety of weather situations, including the passage of drylines, fronts, and outflow boundaries, to name a few.

Early in the experiment three two-hour training sessions prepared a group of 13 meteorologists, including forecasters, interns, and managers, to interpret and assess the refractivity retrievals and ultimately provide feedback via a 1-page survey. Refractivity-based products assessed included absolute refractivity and scan-to-scan refractivity change. To attain a complete depiction of forecast utility, survey questions were designed to assess six operationally relevant measures of refractivity fields: 1) scope of relevant forecast concerns, 2) depiction of near-surface moisture fields, 3) benefiting forecast products, 4) forecast benefits, 5) importance compared to other observations of near-surface moisture, and 6) importance of incorporation into the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System. Findings from the analysis of 26 surveys completed by participants will be presented along with in-depth analyses of representative refractivity case studies.