STEPS OPERATIONS JOURNAL

    Date: May 18, 2000
    Operations Director: L. Jay Miller


WEATHER FORECAST:

    Forecasters: Morris Weisman (NCAR)

No forecast issued, preparations underway.

FORECAST MATRIX

VARIABLE Day 1: 1-4 pm Day 1: 4-9 pm Day 2 Day 3
Convective
Potential
-- --
Storm Type -- --
Triggering -- --
Intuition -- --
Total -- --


EQUIPMENT STATUS:

SYSTEM STATUS
Ops Center Operational except for radio communication and T1 connection to S-Pol
CHILL Operational, work started on testing the quality of the polarimetric measurements. Continuing preparations for first attempt at coordinated radar operations on May 19.
S-Pol Continuing preparations for first attempt at coordinated radar operations on May 19.
LMA Trailer near the WFO installed. Installation continuing on remote stations.
MGLASS Not yet operational
T-28 Not yet operational
Storm ballooning Not yet operational
Mobile mesonet Not yet operational
Storm chase van Not yet operational
YRFS Operational
NWS Operational


EXPECTED OPERATIONS FOR 0518:

No operations will be conducted. Preparations underway for first attempt at coordinated radar operations on May 19. The first official 9am weather briefing will be conducted on that date as well.


DEBRIEFING OF OPERATIONS FOR 0517-0518:

[Radar images]

No operations were conducted, but an intense low pressure center passed through the STEPS domain on Wednesday, May 17. We had sustained high winds of about 50 mph, with gusts to 55-60 mph and some scattered showers in the area. Thursday, May 18, was cold and overcast. Worked continued on both CHILL and SPol in preparation for operations. No research radar data was taken, only data for testing the performance of both radars. Both radars were declared operational by the end of the day on Thursday.