An examination of a downburst and two microbursts in the eastern plains with a very warm mid-level environment

Details

• Personal Author:
  Byrd, Steven F.
• Corporate Authors:
  United States. National Weather Service. Central Region
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NWS (National Weather Service) ; CR (Central Region)
• Description:
  It has long been suggested that in the eastern part of the Great Plains the chances for thunderstorms become small with a 700 mb temperature greater than +10°C. It has also been suggested that the areas of thunderstorms often occur on the cool side of the 700 mb +10°C isotherm (Fig. 1). Since generated 700 mb temperature forecasts are not available, a field forecaster relies on 576 meter 1000-500 mb thickness line which closely corresponds to the 700 mb +10°C isotherm (Fig. 2). Schaefer (1986) mentions this rule and also notes that in forecasting nocturnal Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC) events that a 700 mb temperature greater than +12°C suppresses organized convection. This 700 mb isotherm rule of thumb for the Eastern Plains would not have the same application in the Western Plains due to the higher surface elevations.
• Series:
  Central Region Technical attachment ; 90-29
• Document Type:
  Technical Attachment
• Place as Subject:
  Great Plains
• Rights Information:
  Public domain
• Compliance:
  Library
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/33852/noaa_33852_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.78 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Weather Service (NWS)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:91138a095a8323f7ad78b22a4a57b9277c32e2d9347f104e4a9a3e77f271263f