A Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) originating over Texas traversed the Gulf of Mexico during the evening of 07 April into the morning of the 8th. This system developed in association with a shortwave trough digging across the southern US plains and ahead of a east-moving surface cold front. GOES-16 10.3 um 5-min imagery captures the evolution of the MCS well (Fig 1). Periodic overshooting tops, above anvil cirrus plumes, and gravity waves are all apparent at storm top.

GOES-16 GLM Flash Extent Density (5-min accumulation updating every 1-min) indicated an abundance of lightning activity with the cluster of thunderstorms (Fig 2). The field highlights the most intense updrafts (greatest FED), and shows lightning flashes extending well away from the main line of storms.

The GLM Average Flash Area shows relatively small flashes associated with the main updrafts, while the flashes extending outward from the most intense cells are long (Fig 3). This makes sense, since stronger updrafts are typically associated with smaller flashes.

Looking at the GOES-16 derived TPW field, the cold front pushing east behind the MCS is easily discernible. Behind the front, TPW values are around 0.5″, while values ahead of the front in the vicinity of the MCS are around 1.5″.

Finally, 1-min imagery was available over the coastal areas to aid forecasters in tracking thunderstorms associated with the system. 1-min visible imagery at sunset reveals active thunderstorms, the development of new thunderstorms through the cirrus shield, and a number of gravity waves emanating away from the updrafts.

Bill Line, NWS