Greg Higgins
Supporter
Does anyone have a particular set or combination of indices's / "F5 maps" that you find useful in forecasting severe weather using the F5 software and data?
Greg Higgins
Greg Higgins
-
After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.
I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.
For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.
From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.
Sincerely, Jeff D.
Models and F5 software
- Thread starter Greg Higgins
- Start date
Bob Hartig
EF5
With F5 Data, I mostly use the same maps and indices that everyone else here resorts to on the free sites such as TwisterData and COD--i.e. wind speeds and barbs at various levels, surface and 850 dewpoints, surface pressure, 700 mb temps, MLCINH, and so forth. But F5 offers a number of added features that I tap into regularly. The ability to overlay different parameters is invaluable and gives you the option to run your own customized loops. Also, F5 aggregates a whole slew of parameters that you'd have to search hard to find elsewhere (if, indeed, you could find them at all), and these include a number of proprietary indices. I particularly like Andy's APRWX tornado index, severe Wx index, and lid strength.
I also like to cross-check the maps with F5 Data's forecast soundings, which offer a pretty complete roster of data.
One huge virtue of F5 Data is its integration with GR3 (and GR2/GR2AE) through Allisonhouse. I love the RUC overlays. A glance at the radar not only shows me the storm, but also tells me what kind of bulk shear and helicity it's moving into, what the winds are doing at different levels, and so forth. If you subscribe to Allisonhouse as well as F5 and you're not using the F5 overlays, I encourage you to give them a try.
Perhaps you can tell that I'm a huge fan of F5 Data. I find myself using it as my primary source, cross-referencing it with other sources such as TwisterData. It really is a great tool, a regular Swiss Army Knife for storm freaks.
I also like to cross-check the maps with F5 Data's forecast soundings, which offer a pretty complete roster of data.
One huge virtue of F5 Data is its integration with GR3 (and GR2/GR2AE) through Allisonhouse. I love the RUC overlays. A glance at the radar not only shows me the storm, but also tells me what kind of bulk shear and helicity it's moving into, what the winds are doing at different levels, and so forth. If you subscribe to Allisonhouse as well as F5 and you're not using the F5 overlays, I encourage you to give them a try.
Perhaps you can tell that I'm a huge fan of F5 Data. I find myself using it as my primary source, cross-referencing it with other sources such as TwisterData. It really is a great tool, a regular Swiss Army Knife for storm freaks.
