SYNOPSIS FOR: 04/10/94 - VORTEX-94
A deep upper trof, with closed center near the four corners area, existed
over the southwest U.S. A cold front pushed southward across western
OK and northwest TX overnight and became stationary along a line from
FSM, to ADM, to ABI, during the day. The leading edge of the cold air
was shallow (2-3k ft) and generous moisture south of the front was being
lifted over the front by a southerly low-level jet. A strong mid-level cap,
developed on the previous day, was present above the frontal surface and
over all areas south of the front. No strong shortwaves moved out of the
southwest during the day , awaiting the movement of the major system to
the east. A combination of a weak shortwave and isentropic lift over the
frontal surface allowed deep convection to form behind the front and move
northeast across southwest, central, and northeast OK. Most of the
convection, all well behind the front, was non-supercellular, but one weak-
to-moderate mesocyclone did form in northeast OK in the vacinity of BVO.
Because of the strength of the capping inversion, heating along and ahead of
the front in OK and north TX was insufficient to initiate deep convection in
the warm air ahead of the front. Late in the day, the upper system began to
move eastward. This caused a surface low to form along the front in
eastern NM and track NE along the front. There was significant lifting and
a large area of deep convection formed after dark in west and southwest TX
and moved across OK during the night. There was some large hail, but the
main severe weather was in the form of heavy rain and flash flooding.
Rainfall amounts of up to 8 inches were reported.
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