Current Winter Weather Applied Reseach Activities at WFO St. Louis

(Updated Sept 2004)

1. Ron Przybylinski (SOO) and Gary Schmocker (Forecaster) continue to work on the study of  mesoscale single and/or multiple snowband events.  The events we are studying generally occur under the absence of a strong surface cyclone and just upstream of a strong surface high pressure   center.  Jet Streak dynamics- mid-level Frontogenesis appear to play roles in the development of these mesoscale snowbands. In nearly all of the cases under study, snowfall amounts ranged  from 2 to 6 inches in a relatively narrow bands.  Ron's study of the January 7, 1999     mesoscale snow event is completed. Gary completed the work on the January 20, 1996   snow event. These studies are part of the CIPS Winter Weather project with the Dept. of Meteorology  at Saint Louis University.

January 7, 1999 Mesoscale Snow Event

January 20, 1996 Mesoscale Snow Event

2. Fred Glass continues to work on expanded the Heavy Snow Climatology for central and  southern Illinois.   Fred has also started the study of mesoscale instabilties with some of the major winter storm events from this past 2002-2003 winter season.  Fred completed the study of the January 15-16, 2003 Winter Storm Event - why the forecast became a bust.   Check the Saint Louis University CIPS page (Media Presentations - November 2003) for Fred's presentation.  

Heavy Snow Climatology (Illinois)

January 15-16, 2003 Winter Weather Event

3. Study of Mesoscale Snow Events Across Missouri (updated September 2004).
The winter 2002-2003 season was quite active across the Mid-Mississippi Valley Region with a few major and several mesoscale winter weather events.  Many of these events produced between 2 to 5 inches of snow across our region.  As part of the collaborative efforts with the Saint Louis University Met Department CIPS program, we are studying the degree of forcing and instability associated with these mesoscale winter events.  We are working with Dr. Jim Moore and second year graduate student Mike Paddock.  Ron has completed a preliminary evaluation of  the February 5-6, 2003 winter weather event over southern and central Missouri while Gary Schmocker continues to work on the January 22, 2003 mesoscale snow event over Missouri and southern Illinois.  The January 22, 2003 snow event produced 2 to 3 inches of snow over the region, while the February 5-6, 2003 snow event deposited 2 to 4 inches of snow mainly over the southern third of Missouri.  Kelly Kubinski (Graduate Student at Saint Louis University) assisted Ron during spring 2004 with the study of the mesoscale precipitation bands associated with the February 5-6, 2003 event from KLSX and surrounding WSR-88D Doppler radars.  This case has become a WES case for the local staff.  A powerpoint presentation on the February 5-6, 2003 event  can be found below and on Saint Louis University CIPS Page (Media Presentations November 2003).  Ron has started the study of two other February cases (February 15-16, 03; February 28, 03).  Gary Schmocker is currently documenting the structure and evolution of mesoscale precipitation bands from the January 22, 2003 snow event.  Numerous accidents occurred across the St. Louis metro area during the event.  Mike is concurrently working with Ron and Gary on the February 15-16; February 28 winter cases. Mike is also working on other mesoscale winter weather cases which occurred during the later part of February 2003.  The Saint Louis University Diagnostic program (SLUBREW) and RUC-II model output are used to investigate the forcing and instability fields.  We plan to publish our results from these cases in a formal article later this year or early next year.  Additional preliminary information drawn from these cases will be forthcoming.

 

	Sample 0.5° slice reflectivity image at 2158 UTC from WFO KLSX of the January 22, 2003 mesoscale snow event.   (Click on image for a larger image.)
	Sample 0.5° slice composite reflectivity image at 0330 UTC, 06 February, 2003 from WFOs KLSX, KEAX, and KSGF.  (Click on image for a larger view).
(Will be available shortly).	Sample 0.5° slice composite reflectivity image at 0000 UTC, 16 February 2003 from WFOs, KEAX, KLSX, and KILX. (Click on image for a larger view).

February 5-6 2003 Winter Weather Event over Central and Southern Missouri  (ppt) January 22, 2003 Winter Weather Event over Missouri (to be presented shortly).

 

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