Severe storms developed across the Dakota’s ahead of and along a cold front in association with a potent shortwave on 19 September 2017. An SPC Enhanced risk was issued for tornadoes, significant hail, and significant wind. Given the threat, WFO Bismark requested and was granted a 1-min meso sector. Meanwhile, Hurricane Maria continued to advanced to the Northwest through the Atlantic toward Puerto Rico. The other meso sector was positioned over Hurricane Maria as requested by the National Hurricane Center. These two meso requests represent two of the top four priorities on the meso sector priority list in the event of multiple requests. Meso requests for SPC Enhanced risk is the number three priority, while meso requests for hurricane warnings over the US and its territories is number four. Only an SPC high/moderate risk (number one) or a Volcanic eruption affecting the US and its territories (number two) have higher priority.

Figure 1: 2045 UTC – 2144 UTC 19 September 2017 GOES-16 1-min imagery for severe thunderstorm over North Dakota (left) and Hurricane Maria (right). Full res: https://satelliteliaisonblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/201700919_2p_vis_maria_severe2_anno.gif

-Bill Line, NWS

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