Doppler wind profiler observations in and near a tornadic supercell

A mesocyclone associated with a tornadic supercell passed almost directly over the NOAA 404-MHz wind profiler at Lamont, OK on 24 May 1998. Archived six-minute resolution data from the vertical and two oblique beams of the profiler are discussed. This dataset provided a rare opportunity to construct a detailed time-height section of the three-dimensional wind structure near and in a mesocyclone. The precipitation fall speeds were removed using empirical statistical models between objectively analyzed reflectivity facotrs and profiler-measured vertical velocities well outside the storm updraft. The princpal findings were: 1. There was a strong updraft near and in the mesocyclone and a downdraft flanking it. 2. The updraft attained speeds as high as 50 m/s. 3. There was evidence of significant modification of the horizontal wind structure away from the updraft. 4. There was evidence of storm-generated buoyancy waves in the surrounding environment.