concerning Sunday's 7-11 storms moving through the KC area...

[Todd Friskey]

I had been watching the t-storm cells that were moving through the KEAX area via GRLevel3 late this Sunday morning/early afternoon. There was one cell that was in KS on the Douglas and Johnson Co. line that was showing what I thought was hook for a while and as well as storms E/SE of KC metro. Mike posted on the Nowcast "EAX shows four cells with weakly rotating updrafts attempting to make the transition into supercells." and "Hook echo with TVS approaching Ionia, MO". I thought at the time KEAX would have issued at least a T-Storm Warning for at least one of the cells. I think as they got further away from KC they eventually did. I do realize the storms have to meet certain NWS criteria (or public reports) to be severe or tor warned. So now the storms move into the KSGF CWA and they are issuing severe thunderstorm warnings as well as tornado warnings all over the place. Now the tornado warnings for Benton, Morgan and Miller were all radar indicated at the time of my writing this. What gives? The storms to me looked just as strong as they did when they were in the KEAX CWA as they are now in the KSGF CWA. The storms are actually on the fringe of KSGF warning area and radar. I am still learning so maybe I am just over thinking this or nitpicking as my wife says. I just wonder if there is a difference in thinking between NWSO offices.

 

[Brandon Sullivan]

As for the morning storm :

I know exactly what storm you are referring to..

The thing is, it really did not have the environment to become what we call "surface based", it was 10am ish I recall.

Once this happens, in simple terms, the storm can strengthen, take advantage of better moisture, instability etc, aka be a stronger storm with a more powerful updraft.

The storm today had decent rotation but nothing really pronounced below 10,000 feet. The sig. wx statement that was issued was for the rain/small hail/wind that would impact the area when the core was to collapse on itself..

Probably the same things this afternoon. You can get a good hail core pretty much anytime. That is why it is beneficial to know the environment you are working with to determine if a storm is likely to become surface based. The storms tor warned in MO now are on a differential heating/outflow boundary which was being enhanced as the day goes on too.

 

[Todd Friskey]

Brandon,

Thanks for your explanation. That makes sense now. You know I could see on the radar the inflow into that particular storm as well as others. I really appreciate you explaining it 'cause I was at a loss trying to understand what I was seeing on radar.

Sincerely,
Todd