STEPS OPERATIONS JOURNAL

    Date: July 06 2000
    Operations Director: Jay Miller


WEATHER FORECAST:

    Forecasters: Bruce Entwistle (NWS) and Morris Weisman (NCAR/MMM)

Today:

Hot and dry weather is expected today, with a slight chance of high based convection over the western portions of the STEPS domain mid-afternoon through early evening. Shears have weakened below thresholds for supercellular activity. No severe storms are expected, except for the possibility for strong downburst winds.

Days 2 and 3:

Generally hot and dry conditions are forecast for Friday , Saturday, and Sunday. High based convection is possible on all of these days, but shears and CAPEs will be weak and no supercellular or severe activity is expected.

FORECAST MATRIX

VARIABLE Day 1: 1-4 pm Day 1: 4-9 pm Day 2 Day 3
Convective
Potential
21 11
Storm Type 11 0.50.5
Triggering 11 11
Intuition 00 00
Total 43 2.52.5


EQUIPMENT STATUS:

SYSTEM STATUS
Ops Center Operational.
CHILL Operational.
S-Pol Operational.
LMA Operational.
MGLASS Operational.
T-28 Engine failure, no longer available to the project.
Storm ballooning Operational; should be able to fly 4 EFMs.
Mobile mesonet Recalled to Norman, no longer available to the project.
Storm chase van Operational as the primary precipitation verification vehicle, but no one is available to staff it.
YRFS Operational.
NWS Operational.


EXPECTED OPERATIONS FOR 0706:

Radars will be on standby at noon. Electrical ballooning units will be updated at 2pm with possible deployment toward west or northwest portions of STEPS domain for high-based, ordinary convection along the dry line/lee trough in eastern Colorado. MGLASS will be taken at 18 UTC at Goodland.


DEBRIEFING OF OPERATIONS FOR 0706:

No convection developed in the STEPS domain. Operations were secured at 4pm MDT. MGLASS soundings were not successfully downloaded.