BUFKIT???

[Jim Parsons]

I am trying to find out if anyone uses or has used the BUFKIT program from the NWS. How is for chasing? I am somewhat new to storm chasing and I found this and it seems interesting. Any info would be great. Here is the link...
http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/bufkit/bufkit.html

 

[rdale]

That's a very old link... This software is critical for all aspects of forecasting. If you're new to storm chasing, it might be overkill though, as you'll need to hit the educational section and learn about soundings.

BUFKIT info - http://wdtb.noaa.gov/tools/BUFKIT/index.html

Latest version - http://wdtb.noaa.gov/courses/winterawoc/BUFKIT/BUFKIT_AWOC_Winter_9.08.zip

 

[Greg Blumberg]

I've had some experience with it, and however useful it may be in determining information and adjusting soundings, I wouldn't recommend it for use in storm chasing. If you're modifying sounding data during the chase for decision making, it's not going to help you that much.

It might help if you really understand what's going on with the data, understand the program, and have some spare time on your hands (i.e. waiting for initiation), but during the chase there's far more important data you should be looking at.

If you can learn how to work with it for the forecasting aspect of chasing...all the power to you. It's an amazing piece of software. You can really learn a lot, just make sure you know the basics to soundings and the atmosphere first.

 

[Jeff Duda]

I've had some experience with it, and however useful it may be in determining information and adjusting soundings, I wouldn't recommend it for use in storm chasing. If you're modifying sounding data during the chase for decision making, it's not going to help you that much.

It might help if you really understand what's going on with the data, understand the program, and have some spare time on your hands (i.e. waiting for initiation), but during the chase there's far more important data you should be looking at.

If you can learn how to work with it for the forecasting aspect of chasing...all the power to you. It's an amazing piece of software. You can really learn a lot, just make sure you know the basics to soundings and the atmosphere first.

Agreed, although I don't think you can modify the actual sounding in BUFKIT. You can modify the hodograph, though. You can definitely modify the sounding in NSHARP. But I would still agree and say it isn't that useful for chasing. Forecasting severe weather, yes.

 

[Jim Parsons]

Thanks for the info...I have been a severe weather fan for many years and now I am trying learn the science behind the weather. Soundings & hodographs are my winter learning project.

 

[Rejean Boudreau]

I find it very usefull as a forecast tool ''for the next day''. Then on chase day - it's ok for your final forecast (morning forecast), but you don't really have the time to download the data while chasing - unless you automated that part and/or the storm is slow to kick in and you have time to spare.

It does give you a very quick view of the situation with the different models for a single place/region. Usefull to compare models (RUC, GFS, NAM) for a single place at a given hour.

This year i used it a lot for next day forecast and i've been very successfull at being at the right place/right time (using other tools as well, of course).

If you know what's being showned on the screen, then it's a valuable tool to interpret data and will help you to speed up your decision for the next day or on the morning of the chase day.

If you're not able to understand the graphics of the product, then it won't help you much. First learn how to interpret the data, then that tool will help you a lot.

 

[david diehl]

I have been using Bufkit for 4 years, and I love it.
It has always put me where I need to be, add the Convective storm matrix to Bufkit, and you get a forcasting bomb in my opinion, it has never let me down, in fact it has helped me to find my target 3 to 4 days out at times.
It is a difficult program to learn to use. As other have said, it takes a lot of time to understand how to read it all, Even using it for 4 years, I am still learning on it.
IF you are serious about using bufkitmaybe you can check with your local NWS, maybe one of the forcasters there can help you learn.

 

[rdale]

The latest version I posted above has "BUFKIT University" with a lot of short training clips on how to use the program's inner workings better.