Extended Abstract (152K)P9.1
Warning Decision Making Processes at WFO Jackson, MS During the Tornado Outbreak of 24 November 2001
Alan Gerard, NOAA/NWS, Jackson, MS; and C. Entremont and A. Robinson-Cook
On 24 November 2002, a significant outbreak of tornadoes occurred in the warning and forecast area of the Jackson, MS National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices. Twelve tornadoes occurred during the morning hours, including four strong or violent tornadoes. Forecasters faced several challenges during this severe weather event. First, short term model forecasts of key parameters such as instability and shear were poor, even for forecasts produced just a few hours before the event. This made anticipating convective mode difficult, which had an impact on staffing and situation awareness. Additionally, the actual storms were at varying distances from the radar and in significantly different near storm environments, making warning decision challenging. This paper will examine how these challenges were met operationally, and discuss potential implications for warning decision making in future severe weather events.
Poster Session 9, Warning, Dissemination and Verification
Wednesday, 14 August 2002, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM
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