RUC-2 Supercell Proximity Soundings, Part II: An Independent Assessment of Supercell Forecast Parameters

We have compiled a database of over 250 Rapid Update Cycle 2 (RUC-2) model soundings for both tornadic and nontornadic supercell cases. The goal of this examination is to use RUC-2 sounding analyses to independently assess the utility of various published supercell and tornado forecasting parameters, and to compare parameters for tornadic and non-tornadic supercells. Tested variables will include 0-6 km AGL vector shear, 0-1 and 0-3 km AGL storm-relative helicity (SRH), lifted condensation level (LCL) height, height of the level of free convection (LFC), bulk Richardson number (BRN) shear and Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), among many others. We will also attempt to collect a set of RUC 2 proximity soundings for non-supercell convective cases to discriminate between supercells and other thunderstorms in the parameter space.