Boundary Layer Profiling for High-Impact Weather Analysis and Nowcasting

The need for continuous boundary layer thermodynamic and wind profiling for accurate local high-impact weather analysis and Nowcasting is widely acknowledged. Over the past decade, public and private thermodynamic and wind profiling stations and networks have come into operation around the world. Forecast index time series derived from these profile data can identify early stage convection hours in advance of traditional methods, as well as fog, icing, low level windshear, turbulence, lightning, gust front and hail risks. Applications include:
 Space launch, airport and air traffic control operations
 Electric utility load, wind and solar energy management
 Air quality, outdoor event, icing and fire weather risk mitigation
We present local high impact weather risk identification and mitigation examples based on forecast index time series derived from boundary layer profiles.