# Presentation: 562071

## WFO Huntsville, AL

**Two years of LMA in operations**

## Who are we?

- WFO Huntsville
- Office started in January 14th, 2003
- Co-located with NASA, UAH
- North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array

**Notes:**
123rd WFO
CWA consists of 14 counties across northern AL and southern middle TN
Responsible for aviation forecasts at MSL and HSV

## North Alabama LMA

**North Alabama LMA**

**Notes:**
North Alabama LMA domain
Consists of 10 stations centered on Huntsville, with the base station at NSSTC

## History of LMA data @HUN

- First started ingesting LMA data into AWIPS in May 2003
- First case where used to warn: May 6th,2003
- First case used not to warn: August 27,2003
- Building cases for training on WES ~27 cases archived so far
- Helped install LMA data at BMX and OHX
- Also helped in the ingest of Vaisala LDAR II data at FWD

## How do we display in AWIPS?

- 1-17km Sources within a grid box
- 2km x 2km
- 2 minute interval
- Most people look at total of sources in a grid box, from 1-17km. (Source density)
- Looking for trends in the total.
- Usually displayed as a grid image.

## Ingest into AWIPS

## Alternate LISDAD II display

- Along with AWIPS forecasters can interrogate data using LISDAD II software
- Provides location and number of LMA/NLDN samples
- Alternate to the AWIPS display if needed

**Notes:**
LISDAD II software developed by John Hall
Real-time radar (WSR-88Ds and ARMOR)  and lightning overlay
Archiving capability
Installed on AWIPS adjacent PCs in operational area

## Case #1

- May 6, 2003
- First time LMA used in warning-decision
- Line with revealing embedded supercell
- History of producing tornadoes(F0-F1)
- Broad mid-level rotational couplet
- LMA indicated updraft rapidly intensifying

**Notes:**
Familiar case:  May 6, 2003
Squall line-like appearance...High Precipitation supercell not readily apparent
Storm produced several F0 & F1 tornadoes across North AL

## May 6, 2003 Case

- 1236 UTC

**Notes:**
Case 1:  1st TOR warning using LMA
Line of thunderstorms moving across Northern AL
Rotational copulet is ill-defined

## May 6, 2003 Case

- 1246 UTC

**Notes:**
Case 1 (cont.):  1st TOR warning using LMA
Still no apparent low-level rotation
Front-end reflectivity gradient increasing
Electrical activity sharply increases

## May 6, 2003 Case

- 1256 UTC

**Notes:**
Case 1 (cont.):  1st TOR warning using LMA
Front and rear inflow notches apparent in reflectivity
Strengthening rotational couplet at 1.5o angle
Electrical activity still intense

## May 6, 2003 Case

- 1306 UTC

**Notes:**
Case 1 (last):  1st TOR warning using LMA
Source density greatly decreases
Small low-level rotational couplet
Radar indicates embedded supercell
Tornado reported north of Huntsville

## Radar Coverage

- KHTX

- KGWX

- 0.5 Elevation Heights
- FROM KHTX 10889 ft MSL
- FROM KGWX 7559 ft MSL

- o

## Case #2

- October 18, 2004
- Rotating storm near edges of radar coverage
- LMA provided forecaster extra confidence in tornado warning

**Notes:**
Edges of LMA domain: Tornadic cell
Doppler radar and LMA signatures compliment

## October 18, 2004 Case

**0.5 o SRM**

**0.5 o Refl**

**1.5 o SRM**

**LMA   Source Density**

**2234 UTC**

**Developing Mesocyclone/Hook**

**Minimal Electrical Activity**

**Notes:**
Case 2: Edge of radar domain
Isolated supercell in Northwest AL
Deep rotational couplet
Unimpressive LMA indicated activity

## October 18, 2004 Case

**0.5 o SRM**

**1.5 o SRM**

**0.5 o Refl**

**2240 UTC**

**LMA   Source Density**

**Persistent Couplet**

**Lightning Jump**

**Notes:**
Case 2 (cont.):  Edges of radar domain
Deep couplet still present
Reflectivity hook ill-defined
LMA indicated activity increases sharply

## October 18, 2004 Case

**October 18, 2004 Case**

**0.5 o SRM**

**1.5 o SRM**

**0.5 o Refl**

**LMA   Source Density**

**2244 UTC**

**Stengthening Couplet**

**Slight decrease in source count**

**Notes:**
Case 2 (cont.):  Edges of radar domain
Low-level rotational couplet tightens
LMA indicated activity slightly decreases

## October 18, 2004 Case

**0.5 o SRM**

**1.5 o SRM**

**0.5 o Refl**

**LMA   Source Density**

**2250 UTC**

**Minutes before tornado touchdown**

**Continued decrease in sources**

**Notes:**
Case 2 (last):  Edges of radar domain
Persistent tight low-level rotational couplet
Reflectivity hook
LMA source activity greatly decreases

## Case #3

- July 2, 2005
- A null case event
- Significant lightning jump with eastern most storm and elevated core...prompt severe thunderstorm warning
- No severe weather reported with this cell

**Notes:**
Null Case:  July 2, 2005
Elevated reflectivity core
Source density values near 300 (typical 100-200) during jump
No severe weather reported

## July 2, 2005 Background Info

- Moist and unstable airmass in place across the region
- 12z BMX sounding showed potential for wet microbursts (next slide)
- Earlier storms during the day produced microbursts and wind damage
- Morning HWO product mentioned isolated storms with wind gusts to 50 mph...frequent lightning and very heavy rain

**Notes:**
Case 3 (cont.): Null case
Wind damage reported with earlier microburst storms

## July 2, 2005 Background Info

**12z BMX Sounding**

**Moist low levels; dry mid layers conducive to microburst development**

- Thermodynamic profile somewhat favorable for microbursts; MDPI calculation of 0.94 and high CAPE also indicative of the potential for microbursts

**Steep low level lapse rates**

**Notes:**
Case 3 (cont.): Null case
Environment favorable for microbursts
Microburst Day Potential Index (MPDI; developed at 45th Wx Squad/AMU) > 1 indicates MB likely

## 2 July 2005

**0.5****°****Refl, NLDN**

**Source Density, NLDN**

**0.5****°**** SRM**

**VIL**

- 0100 UTC

**Notes:**
Case 3 (cont.):  Null Case
Line of rain showers/embedded tstorms moved across NW AL into Limestone and Madison Counties
Isolated cell ahead of line
No alarming reflectivity features

## 2 July 2005

**2 July 2005**

**Slight increase**

- 0110 UTC

**0.5****°****Refl, NLDN**

**Source Density, NLDN**

**0.5****°**** SRM**

**VIL**

**Notes:**
Case 3 (cont.):  Null case
Storms becoming more electrically active
Embedded tstorm top growing

## 2 July 2005

**2 July 2005**

**Lightning Jump**

**VIL increase**

- 0120 UTC

**0.5****°****Refl, NLDN**

**Source Density, NLDN**

**0.5****°**** SRM**

**VIL**

**Notes:**
Case 3 (cont.):  Null case
Line merges with isolated cell
Elevated reflectivity core
Source density quickly reaches > 300 sources
VIL and echo tops increase
SVR Warning issued at 0122Z for Limestone

## 2 July 2005

**2 July 2005**

**Decrease in sources**

**No Severe Weather Reported...Just Heavy Rain.**

- 0127 UTC

**0.5****°****Refl, NLDN**

**Source Density, NLDN**

**0.5****°**** SRM**

**VIL**

**25-30 kts outflow at 4 kft AGL**

**Notes:**
Case 3 (last):  Null case
Source density decreases
Outflow below severe criteria
Another SVR warning issued for Limestone and Madison
Only reports received:  minor flash flooding in central Limestone
Mid-altitude radial convergence signature noted in SRM 10 min later
 Merger possibly caused a misleading lightning jump signature

## Summary of when LMA makes largest impact in operations

- Low to moderate severe events
- At greater distances from the radar
- Sub radar interval cell information
- Detecting initial cloud to ground strikes
- Local case studies have shown lead times on the order of several (3-5) minutes
- Increased lead times for TAF updates and Airport Weather Warnings

## How we have infused LMA into operations

- WES scenarios
- Forecaster awareness
- AWIPS procedures
- Overlays: Radar/NLDN/LMA
- 4 Panels: Refl,SRM,NLDN,LMA
- Data Advocate

**Notes:**
Radar/lightning overlays:
Help determine updraft location/intensity
Locate “Bolts from the Blue”
Cell classification/terminology (Thunderstorm or Rainshower?)
4-panel displays:
Save time during storm interrogation
Locate most intense areas of a line
Connect rotational couplets with lightning jumps

## Building confidence

- Ensuring data reliability
- Providing adequate training
- Encouraging use of available datasets during events
- Identifying a point of contact (program leader) at each office *Advocate
- The SOO can’t do everything
- Completing event reviews and case studies

## WES Training Archive

- Number of LMA cases for training
- Approximately 27 cases archived so far
- Manual retrieval of LMA archive
- LMA data archived on NSSTC server at the end of each day
- Data retrieved for selected dates
- Currently have to manually add LMA data to existing WES cases

## Operational Evaluations

- On-line LMA survey developed for the WFO
- Completed after an  event in which the LMA data was used
- Survey also available at Nashville and Birmingham
- Case studies also completed on LMA dataset (as shown previously)

## Future trends of LMA in WFO HUN

- Integrate total lightning information with other projects...
- Convective Initiation studies
- Lightning Threat Index product for EMAs
- UAH Dual-Polarimetric Doppler Radar
- Detection efficiency mapping
- Local training/refresher
- Inclusion in forecaster development plan
- Blind studies to determine effectiveness of LMA data during WDM situations?
- Formal publication of case studies

## Lightning Threat Index

- Provide to Emergency Managers
- Simplified illustration of lightning data
- Collaborative effort with NASA
- Still in developmental stages

**Notes:**
Idea spawned from EMAs request for LMA data
Complicated data...training required  simplify data by creating a grid display 
Steve Goodman can provide more info on this product

## Real-time Mapping of Detection Efficiency

- Useful for storms near the edges of grid
- More important for offices like BMX and OHX with the North Alabama LMA
- Awareness of drop off rate

**Notes:**
Paper by Koshak et al. (2004) illustrates LMA detection decreases about 150 km out
Increases/decreases in source density as storms near 150 km ring
Dennis Buechler can provide more info on this

## Team up with Convective Initiation

- Dr. Mecikalski at UAH
- Use together to highlight threat areas
- Illustrates possible thunderstorm development next 0-2 hours

## Satellite-Lightning Relationships

***Satellite-Lightning Relationships***

-  *Current Work:* Develop relationships between IR TB/TB and lightning source counts/flash densities toward nowcasting (0-2 hr) future lightning occurrence
** Supported by the NASA New Investigator Program Award #:NAG5-12536*

**2047 UTC**

**2147 UTC**

_**North Alabama LMA Lightning Source Counts**_

**2040-2050 UTC**

**2140-2150 UTC**

## Cross Sections

- Provide indication of updraft strength
- Better serve aviation needs
- Interpretation still uncertain
- Future research

**Notes:**
Interpretation still uncertain:
Where does LMA best detect breakdown (Instrument detection)?
What other information can this provide?
Incorporate with Dual-pol radar data to foster research

## Questions?

- Contacts:
- _[Jason.Burks@noaa.gov](mailto:Jason.Burks@noaa.gov)__	__(IT/AWIPS)_
- _[Chris.Darden@noaa.gov](mailto:Chris.Darden@noaa.gov)__	__(Training/Operational)_
- _[Patrick.Gatlin@noaa.gov](mailto:Patrick.Gatlin@noaa.gov)__	__(Program Lead)_

*Background Photo:                        Lake Guntersville, AL (B. Blakenship)*