SYNOPSIS FOR: 04/14/94 - VORTEX-94
Major development of the short wave trough in the northern plains
occurred, with strong anticyclonic development on the west coast. The
surface cyclone consolidated in northern Kansas and signficant surface
frontogenesis occurred, with the cold front surging through Kansas late in
the evening and across much of Oklahoma during the night. The dryline
underwent some interesting structural changes during the afternoon, as seen
in the Oklahoma Mesonet (and in the WSR-88D clear air mode), with some
pretty clear evidence of complex mesoscale structure. The unstable lapse
rates and good low level moisture were not tapped during the day, because
it appears the cap was just strong enough. The maintenance of the cap
could be seen in the special 18Z soundings and the routine soundings at 00Z
on the 15th give pretty clear evidence that the erosion of the cap was nearly
complete by that time, but the expected convection just couldn't quite get
started in Oklahoma along the dryline. Hodographs also looked quite
favorable in the eastern half of Oklahoma and Kansas during the evening.
Strong convection with tornadoes finally developed after dark in eastern
Kansas and Missouri, as the cold front rolled across Kansas, and continued
to be severe through the night.
DOSWELL
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