Forecasters: David (NWS) and Morris Weisman (NCAR)
Generaly hot conditions remain over the steps domain today. However, a weak cold front approaching from the NW may enhance convective activity late today and this evening, especially in the northern portion of the steps domain. Most convection will be relatively weak and high based, but may produce strong downburst winds due to very steep, dry adiabatic lapse rates below cloud base. These storms may also be quite active electrically. With strong vertical shear over the region, a few isolated supercells may develop late, located at the southern end of an expected line of stronger convection extending from central Nebraska northeastward. These storms could extend into the extreme northern steps region this evening.
| VARIABLE | Day 1: 1-4 pm | Day 1: 4-9 pm | Day 2 | Day 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convective Potential |
1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Storm Type | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Triggering | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Intuition | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| SYSTEM | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Ops Center | Operational. When needed both repeaters #1 and #2 will be devoted to mobile units, and the radars will use the regular telephones. |
| CHILL | Fully operational. |
| S-Pol | Fully operational. |
| LMA | Fully operational with on-site recording. Some interference on TV channel 3 from some distanct broadcast station. Work will continue on wireless internet for real-time analysis at Goodland base station. |
| MGLASS | Operational, soundings now available from the NCAR/RAP web page. |
| T-28 | Operational. Will do a test flight to check generator that was replaced after yesterday's flight. |
| Storm ballooning | Operational. |
| Mobile mesonet | Six vehicles are now operational. |
| Storm chase van | Operational. |
| YRFS | Operational |
| NWS | Operational |
The radars will be up and running by noon, with mobile units drifting northward to Sterling CO in anticipation of late afternoon development of convection on the Cheyenne Ridge. The ballooning units will remain in Goodland with possible deployment to St. Francis KS or Idalia CO later in the day. This is dependent on visual observations from the mobile units in the Sterling area.
There was no convection in the STEPS area. Radars maintained surveillance through 6:30 PM local. Mobile mesonet did work a well defined boundary to the north of S-pol as that radar took high resolution sector scans. Mobile mesonet data were obtained over approximately 25 minutes. A sharp discontinuity was measured in dew point, with a 13 C change in 1 km.