NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

In performing the scenario, several surface, upper air, and other maps are available to first assess the pre-storm environment. A plethora of data from the Louisville-Ft. Knox WSR-88D radar (KLVX) also is available for viewing, including reflectivity, storm-relative velocity, and other pertinent radar images. You are asked to assess radar data trends, then integrate these trends with your storm structure knowledge to answer several questions designed to facilitate timely and accurate warning decisions in an operational, real-time severe weather event. Specifically, the questions will test your ability to detect and discuss various severe weather signatures, and to use this information to issue warnings as needed. An answer sheet is provided that explains in detail noteworthy severe weather signatures and their relationship to the warning decision process. A damage report also is available as well as overview information on squall line structure. If desired, you can skip the question sheet and just follow along with the radar imagery and answer sheet to learn more about the complexity of severe storm evolution in this case.

This event is very interesting in its evolution and offers a rather comprehensive training package designed to address various hazardous weather threats to life and property. The training exercise is well worth your time. Other severe weather and winter weather training documents, as well as additional scientific information are available on NWS Louisville’s Science and Technology Page. Large quantities of weather data also can be found on NWS Louisville’s Web Homepage. 

Thank you very much for your interest.  Enjoy our training exercise!