Sounding 6 Discussion

Discussion on Sounding 6 - Freezing Rain

The wind structure: Again in this precipitation type forecast problem, we see a broad warm advection pattern in the wind field. Easterly surface winds veer to south and then further to southwest. The temperature and moisture profile in this case shows a very classic freezing rain inversion through the lowest 200 mb with surface temperatures <32F near the surface. The main focal point in this sounding is the degree of the warm layer near 880 mb with the max temp reaching about 5C. This fits the freezing rain criteria of greater than 3C in the warm layer. The criteria clearly shows if ice is introduced or NOT, the result of the T>3C in the warm layer is freezing rain.

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