June 1, 1994

Vortex Aircraft Mission #7

Flight ID:

940531I

Flight Track:


Click image for full resolution.

Flight Crew:

Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler         Flight Director:  Damiano
Doppler Radar:   Shepherd/Schneider     Pilots:           Ticknor/Kennedy
Cloud Physics:   Jacobs                 Data Technician:  Pradas
Observer:        Bluestein              Systems Engineer: Lynch
Observer:        Wakimoto, Janish, Atkins, Crawford


Takeoff Time: 1902 UTC                  Landing Time: 0250 UTC
Official Mission Duration: 8.0 hrs
Number of Data Tapes Used:  Radar: 2    Cloud Physics: 1        Video: 3

Data Systems Log

Radar Data System Log   Time On(UTC)    Time Off(UTC)   Comments
Tape #1                 2133                            Start LF/TA
                                                        Radar went down
                                                        Rewound tapes
                                        2331            Radar down
Tape #2                 2336                            Start REC again
                                        0220            Stop Record


Cloud Physics Log       Time On(UTC)    Time Off(UTC)   Comments
                        2201            0154            Not much to comment
                                                       about

Summary:

Ground teams spent the night in Dodge City, KS. Severe weather development was expected to take place in northern Kansas along a weak frontal boundary. The plan for the P-3 was to fly preconvective patterns at 1000' AGL until convection begins. Additionally, the repeater power supply was replaced prior to the flight.

NOAA 43 departed OKC at 1902 UTC, climbing to 9000' heading for Herington, KS. We descended to 1000' AGL just south of I-70, flying northward along 97 W. We crossed the front 6 nm south of the Nebraska border as the winds backed from the south to ESE, temperature dropped 4 degrees, and clouds increased. We proceeded westbound along 40 N to 97 40'W; the southbound leg passed Concordia, KS to a point just north of I-70. We executed approximately 9 north-south legs between Hebron, NE and Belleville, KS collecting meteorological data north and south of the front.

At 2215 UTC, convection began to mature. We performed several Doppler tracks on two cells in the vicinity of Chester, NE. Cells did not particularly look good, becoming multicellular and gusting out rather quickly. Golf ball size hail was reported near Chester, NE prior to 2300 UTC.

The ground teams became encouraged about convective development to the ENE. At 2330 UTC, we headed to their location. We executed some 18 Doppler tracks NE-SW on this line. The storm had a real ominous appearance with a spectacular shelf cloud with cloud tails. However, to the best of our knowledge, the tail radar did not show any weak echo regions. The storms continued to be multicellular, evolving rather quickly, with new growth on the southwest flank as the line moved slowly southeastward. The FC reported a TVS signature apparently reported by the Topeka, KS WSR-88D. This case may be interesting if there was a TVS signature with no WER or BWER.

We departed the area at 0135 UTC arriving at OKC at 0250 UTC. There are 26 flight hours remaining.

Irv Watson

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