29 June 2000 STEPS Supercell -- observations and modeling

Movie of SP98 29 June Simulation (quicktime required, 6.8 MB)

Sounding used for numerical simulations

Observed NCAR mobile GLASS sounding released from Goodland, KS at 2022 UTC on 29 June 2000 (thick grey lines). The modified sounding used for model initialization is overlaid (black). The hodograph is the same for both soundings, with corresponding heights (km) AGL denoted. The motion of the observed and modeled storms after developing supercell characteristics is denoted by a plus and a circle respectively. CAPE (J kg^-1), CIN (J kg^-1), BRN, and 0 to 3 km SRH (m^2 s^-2) are shown for both soundings, observed (grey) and modified (black).

Reflectivity from 29 June and simulations:

(Left Column) 5 km MSL radar reflectivity from S-Pol with ground relative streamlines overlaid at (a) 2305 UTC (c) 2343 UTC, courtesy S. A. Tessendorf. (Right Column) 4 km AGL (approx. 5 km MSL) parameterized reflectivity from model simulations at (b) 65 min (d) 103 min with ground relative wind vectors and cloud outline (grey) at 4 km (approx. 5 km MSL). Corresponding times are relative to the right turn taken by the observed storm at 2330 UTC and the simulated storm at 90 min)

Storm path from simulated and observed storms:

path of simulation storm using reflectivity core (solid black).
path of observed storm from approximately 2330 UTC through 0100 UTC (grey dash).