On 15 June 2017, the Storm Prediction Center had a Moderate Risk for Severe weather (for wind) out for much of the southeast half of Kansas, with a enhanced risk area (for hail) extending southwest into the Texas Panhandle. Morning GOES-16 split window difference imagery showed low-level moisture boundaries/moisture pooling setting up across the region. The relatively light shades of gray indicate regions of relatively high low-level moisture content. Of particular note is a w-e strip of ll moisture across western Kansas and another sw-ne oriented gradient extending from the Texas Panhandle into southern Kansas. By the end of the morning, cu could be seen developing within these areas. See this blog post for details on the split window difference.

Figure 1: 15 June 2017 morning GOES-16 Split Window Difference. High resolution: https://satelliteliaisonblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/20170615_swd_am4.gif

Convection would develop rapidly within the moisture plume identified in Kansas (Figure 2).

Figure 2: 15 June 2017 Split Window Difference (gray scale) with cloud top 10.3 um IR overlay. Full resolution: https://satelliteliaisonblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/20170615_ir_swd5_anno.gif

The AWIPS Tracking Meteogram Tool provides forecasters with a means of graphing trends in a field. In this case, one can quantify and visualize how rapidly cloud top temperatures cooled with this storm. The developing thunderstorm cooled a remarkable 70C from 1727 UTC to 1827 UTC (10C to -60C) (Figure 3).

Figure 3: 15 June 2017 GOES-16 10.3 um IR imagery and Meteogram of coldest cloud top temperatures. High resolution: https://satelliteliaisonblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/20170615_ir_graph.gif

Several GOES-16 derived products recently became available to NWS forecasters in AWIPS. GOES-16 CAPE and PW showed increasing values through the day prior to initiation. Storms in Kansas developed within a local TPW and CAPE max, while storms in Texas developed along a sharp gradient (Fig 4 and 5). The GOES-R TPW and Derived Stability Indices algorithms have been tested in the HWT using legacy GOES Sounder data as a proxy. Evaluations showed that the GOES-derived indices depict the location and movement of boundaries and local min/max well. More feedback on these products can be found on the GOES-R HWT blog here.

Figure 4: GOES-16 TPW in inches and 10.3 um IR. Full resolution: https://satelliteliaisonblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/20170615_ir_tpw5_anno2.gif

Figure 5: 15 June 2017 GOES-16 CAPE in j/kg and 10.3 um IR. Full resolution

Finally, a textbook overshooting top spotted with a storm in Texas (Fig 6). Measured roughly 10 miles in diameter, 15-20C colder than surrounding anvil. Severe hail reported with this storm.

Figure 6: 15 June 2017 GOES-16 VIS (top) and IRW (bottom). Full resolution: https://satelliteliaisonblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/20170615_ot2.gif

– Bill Line, NWS

“The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing. Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized.”