Regional And Mesoscale Meteorology Team
Daily Satellite Discussion
Tuesday June 17, 1997
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This is one of those days when data is sparse and what you do have is not necessarily continuous.
With that in mind, I have 3 pictures today and will try to lean on them for all they are worth.
The first image is from 1945z and shows several nice outflow boundaries. These stretch along the coast from TX through LA. With that in mind, the cloud features are also indicative of the airflow in the lower levels. The cloud streets over the water indicate that the airflow near the surface is moving from the southwest and is converging along the outflow boundaries. Also notice the cloud field in the NW portion of the image. These clouds are indicative of northwest flow, again in the low levels. These two areas can be used to discern cyclonic flow. Conventional surface data could confirm that this image shows a closed low. Radar data do readily indicate waves and LEWPs along the boundary which stretched from MS southwestward back into TX.
Of particular importance in forecasting/nowcasting storms is the intersection of boundaries. I direct your attention to the outflow boundary in eastern TX that is oriented east-west. There is an existing NE-SW cloud line which may represent the end of the front or just an area of convergence along the coast. In either case, this intersection may be a key location in the development of significant convection in the short term.
Brian Motta