2011-04-21 NOW: TX

[Jeff Duda]

Pretty gnarly looking supercell oozing southeastward across the Big Bend region of SW TX. I don't see any SN icons on it, so I'm guessing no one is on it. That's too bad since it's floating right down U.S. 285, really the only main (or probably paved) road within miles. KMAF shows impressive velocities with it, showing around 140 kts max delta-V at 0.5 degrees (just now noticing 130 kts G2G as of the 2239Z scan, granted this is at 11500 ft ARL). This signature has been pretty consistent over the last hour. Given the total lack of 0-1 km shear and minimal shear above that in weak 500 mb westerly flow, this certainly shows what terrain influences can do for a storm, although it's funny to note that the only respectable shear is right over where the storm is right now.

 

[Jeff Duda]

Just watched a BWER form on the storm and then rapidly collapse just as velocities were peaking and then decreasing. I'm guessing that means the storm produced a tornado right then. Velocities don't quite look so impressive now, but it could be cycling. Midland/Odessa is putting some pretty strong wording in their warning text "long-lived dangerous storm", but given the 48000 ft height of the 50 dbZ contour as of the most recent scan, this storm is probably producing some rather large hail. This radar signature reminds me a lot of the storm that produced the Vivian, SD record setting hailstone last July, especially since it's about as far from the radar as that storm was.

 

[Will Campbell]

I've had my eye on this little guy too. Going absolutely nuts! There have been some pretty intense velocities on it, and it's turned > 90 degrees.

 

[Chip Redmond]

I'm not familiar with the terrain or the most likely lack of population but I hope someone is peeking at that storm. I don't think I have witnessed a couplet like that before and wonder how it looks closer to the radar. The ability for it to maintain itself that long is amazing, especially as Jeff said, in not the greatest favorable conditions. I wonder if a boundary from yesterdays storms has anything to do it...

Chip

 

[Doug Drace]

Whats up with the lack of a Tornado Warning? Velocities are nuts and is it really necessary to have a more well defined hook than this??? This supercell is south of the WF, so its not elevated...

 

[Doug Drace]

Finally a Tornado Warning a few minutes after I posted above. Im sure Andy Gabrielson or David Drummond will post some pics of it, according to Weathertap they both have been hanging right with the circulation on this nasty looking supercell.

 

[Will Campbell]

I'm curious as to just how sfc based this cell is. Considering the velocity readings for the last couple hours if it were > 1000m I'd have a hard time believing this thing hasn't produced. Moving into a small pocket of ~100m2s-2 helicity and more favorable instability. Will be interesting to see what it does for the rest of the evening, especially if it can get ahold of a noc. LLJ. I bet this was a beautiful storm...wish I were down there about now!

Edit: Wow, just got done eating and didn't even notice the cell in Fisher county that you are referencing.