AWOC Hail Soundings Banner Image

Introduction:

This supplemental training module will provide examples of what is important in the assessment of hail threat just utilizing skew-T plots. The following 20 examples are all actual RAOBs, but the principles of hail threat analysis are applicable to model soundings as well. It is important to keep in mind that these soundings are rarely representative of the actual storm environment at the time of initiation and/or hailfall. Soundings often change significantly over the course of an hour or two. This module displays a variety of raobs from all regions of the U.S. and examines them in terms of hail threat.

Instructions:

1. Examine each skew-T plot and diagnose the threat level of hail (in your head) based on each of the following parameters that are listed below each sounding:

CAPE of any parcel
Deep layer (0-6 km) shear
Mid Level Lapse Rates

The subjective scale used for rating the parameters is "weak", "decent", " good", "excellent", and "begin crying" (a few instances a year that particular parameter is that high).

2. After diagnosing the hail threat by parameter, mentally decide on an overall hail threat, using SPC nomenclature of "none", "slight", "moderate", and "high". Then click the "Reveal" button to show what and why an experienced hail forecaster would have assigned each parameter and overall hail threat. Clicking reveal also displays a brief summary of the hail event.

2 Ways to go through the examples:

1. Go through all 20 soundings in order

Click Here to begin Module

2. Select individual soundings to view from the table below:
Albany, NY Bethel, AK
Boise, ID Buffalo, NY
Corpus Cristi, TX Del Rio, TX
Desert Rock, NV Detroit, MI
Glasgow, MT Green Bay, WI
Hilo, HI Jacksonville, FL
Little Rock, AR Minneapolis, MN
Nashville, TN Norman, OK
Omaha, NE Salem, OR
San Diego, CA Sterling, VA
NEW!! 5 Cases from 2005 --> Atlanta, GA
Miami, FL Grand Junction, CO
Lake Charles, LA Reno, NV
Photo acknowledgements on the above banner, from left to right: NWSFO Bismarck, NWSFO Hastings, NWSFO Detroit, NWSFO Little Rock, and NWSFO Green Bay.