April Weather Discussion.

[sleetstorm]

Okay, I went to NEXRAD radar and I saw a long column of different shades of different hues which of course is the rate of precipitation. But beside that to the right of the initials dBZ are a column of numbers which are in multiple of five. Do they indicate what elevation that showers & thunderstorms as far as in feet, wxdata, srainhoutx, wxman57, Ptarmigan?

[wxdata]

Okay, I went to NEXRAD radar and I saw a long column of different shades of different hues which of course is the rate of precipitation. But beside that to the right of the initials dBZ are a column of numbers which are in multiple of five. Do they indicate what elevation that showers & thunderstorms as far as in feet, wxdata, srainhoutx, wxman57, Ptarmigan?

In basic terms, that's showing how strong the return to the radar antenna is. The stronger the return the heavier the rain is falling.

Here's where you want to go

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=HGX

Just to the left of the color bar is a vertical bar labeled " Advanced Radar Types Click"

Click on that and near the bottom is 'echo tops"

[sleetstorm]

Then how do I tell how tall that they are in feet, meters, miles, wxdata?

[wxdata]

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
432 PM CDT WED APR 7 2010

TXZ164-177-178-072200-
SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-
432 PM CDT WED APR 7 2010

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 431 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...CRABBS PRAIRIE AND
RIVERSIDE.

[srainhoutx]

Then how do I tell how tall that they are in feet, meters, miles, wxdata?

Tops are around 32k ft in our area at this time.

[sleetstorm]

I do not know how many of you are getting sunshine at current moment, but I am receiving rather healthy quantities of it, at least healthy enough anyway. That ought to assist the atmosphere to become more volatile, right?

[wxdata]

Also Sleetstorm, if you'll notice on the 'echo tops' product, it will tell you max echo tops...

[wxdata]

VIL going up on the storm near Huntsville. Warning soon?

[sleetstorm]

Then how do I tell how tall that they are in feet, meters, miles, wxdata?

Tops are around 32k ft in our area at this time.

Thank you, srainhoutx. Where did you go to find that out?

[wxdata]

Knew it!

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
442 PM CDT WED APR 7 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEAGUE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHWESTERN SAN JACINTO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
WALKER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 436 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 11
MILES SOUTHWEST OF HUNTSVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT
LIMITED TO THE TOWN OF HUNTSVILLE AND HUNTSVILLE STATE PARK.

[srainhoutx]

Battle helmet on wxdata?

[wxdata]

Looks boring for Houston though..

[wxdata]

Anyone know what VCP 221 is used for?

Found it:

Widespread precipitation with embedded convection. (ie, tropical systems)

Improves range-obscured velocity data over VCP 121

[weatherguy425]

VCPs 121, 221, and 21 would be used for widespread non-severe convection or an approaching tropical cyclone, or for non-severe precipitation events, including snowfall

[sleetstorm]

Also Sleetstorm, if you'll notice on the 'echo tops' product, it will tell you max echo tops...

Oh, yes, now I see what you are talking about. Thank you, wxdata. I can not believe how easily that I overlooked that.

[wxdata]

VCPs 121, 221, and 21 would be used for widespread non-severe convection or an approaching tropical cyclone, or for non-severe precipitation events, including snowfall

At least HGX is back to VCP 212. That was interesting...

[weatherguy425]

At least HGX is back to VCP 212. That was interesting...

Haha yeah, kind of out of place for the situation.

[wxdata]

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
455 PM CDT WED APR 7 2010

TXC407-471-072230-
/O.CON.KHGX.SV.W.0008.000000T0000Z-100407T2230Z/
WALKER TX-SAN JACINTO TX-
455 PM CDT WED APR 7 2010

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT
FOR SAN JACINTO AND WALKER COUNTIES...

AT 453 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
HUNTSVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE
NOT LIMITED TO HUNTSVILLE STATE PARK...CRABBS PRAIRIE...
RIVERSIDE...POINT BLANK AND OAKHURST

[srainhoutx]

[wxdata]

NWS:

"Just got a report of dime sized hail in downtown Huntsville from the sheriffs office."