NWC REU 1998

 

 

Shortwave Troughs and Violent Tornado Outbreaks

Alicia Cacciola and Robert Johns

 

Abstract:

It has been noticed that violent tornado outbreaks are often accompanied by rapidly moving shortwave troughs or wind maxima at mid-levels of the atmosphere. The goal of this project was see if there is an actual relationship between violent tornado outbreaks and rapidly moving jet streaks. In cases of tornado outbreaks, wind maxima or shortwave trough axes were tracked as they moved across the country. Their speed and magnitude were compared to the speed and magnitude of wind maxima associated with wind and/or hail severe weather outbreaks.

Paper available upon request.