A recent paper by Corbone et al (2001) showed coherent precipitation patterns, as determined from WSR-88D radar data, that are continental in scale and have durations greater than the typical mesoscale convective systems. These patterns are referred to as precipitation "episodes". These data are displayed in time- distance plots, referred to as Hovmoller diagrams. In this study, we incorporate severe weather reports into the climatology of warm season precipitation "episodes" over much of the continental United States.

Of particular interest is a high wind/bow echo event which occurred over the upper midwest during July 2001. When the wind reports were displayed on a Hovmoller diagram, there was good agreement with the precipitation "streak". This case provided the motivation to examine many more severe events in the context of the Hovmoller representations of precipitation episodes. It is possible that this information could be useful for specialized forecasting applications such as those associated with the upcoming BAMEX experiment.

reference R.E. Carbone, J. D. Tuttle, D. A. Ahijevich and S.B. Trier, 2001 Inferences of Predictability associated with Warm Season Precipitation Episodes. Journal of Atmosperic Science