WX Works Tips & Tricks - One Stop-n-Shop

[Mickey Ptak]

There are a lot of us chasers that are starting to come around to the thought of buying the WXWorks system. Now I know there are a lot of threads already covering this but I was thinking about starting a thread specifically for tips & tricks of using it and other things that relate to the system. A one stop-n-shop if you will.

I bought mine this summer (2005) and have not had the chance to mess with it. So I for one would enjoy any tips from the ones who have had it for a while.

So if anyone has any Tips & Tricks pass them along.

Mick

 

[Greg Stumpf]

One important tip - remember to trust your eyes and your instincts and understand the strengths and limitations of the system. Don't let "Threat Net Cancer" take over!

For example, I can see how easy it might have been for folks on the May 12 2005 South Plains event to become glued to the Threat Net data, and not realize 1) the storm core was well above 55 dBZ (VIP level 6), 2) the data are not from the low-elevation scan (usually won't see hooks and other important storm structure), and 3) there was considerable rapid evolution of the storm between the 5 minute updates right at tornado time.

Bear in mind that in the NWS, the norm is for warning meteorologists to trust the base data over the algorithms, and that algorithms are only a "safety net". With Threat Net, you have algorithms, and then dumbed down base data. Just be careful, and then Threat Net could be used effectively.

 

[Mickey Ptak]

Probably the best tip of them all.

I never have really put a whole lot of faith in it and that's why it took me such a long time to get, well plus $$$. The main reason I wanted it is simply to get to the storm and not having to rely on the scares wifi hotspot for radar data. We all know how hard it is visually on a great DL haze day at 4pm.

Mick

 

[mrobinett]

Thank you for starting this thread Mickey, if it evolves into a good One-stop as you said, itll be a great starter for those of us considering getting the setup for next spring!

Threat Net Cancer, honestly I can see how that would become a problem, more emphasis on data than actual experience and visual clues, great tip!!

 

[Jay Cazel]

I am also glad you started this thread...I myself just got WxWorks 3 weeks ago and have played with it some but nothing has happened yet to really try it out.

 

[Dan Robinson]

There had been a discussion on WX-CHASE about the purple reflectivity cores on Threatnet radar echoes, the highest echo intensity on Wx Worx radar. That is, they do not always correspond to severe weather or even storm strength. A purple 'core' does not indicate the presence of hail, or if there is confirmed hail, it may be anywhere inside or even outside the purple core.

In my experience, the purple (55Dbz) cores on ThreatNet are mainly areas of benign heavy rain (benign except for the hydroplaning threat). Hail usually varies from small to nonexistent in purple ThreatNet cores. The largest hail I've run into is where we'd expect it, just to the north and/or west of a meso - and this area may or may not be inside the purple core shown on ThreatNet. The SCITS and shear 'blobs' have been more reliable indicators of where large hail might be hanging out.

In general, a massively sized, round/oval-shaped contiguous 'purple core' on WxWorx can *sometimes* be the indicator a supercell. If you have shear data and SCITs (the Responder package), the presence and location of shear 'blobs' and 'donuts' can help to confirm this.

These identifying features are not always consistent, though. Every storm is different.

Here is what the Kent County, Texas supercell on June 12 looked like as it was producing its first tornadoes near Spur. It is the southernmost cell in this image:

http://wvlightning.com/june122005/june12radar1.jpg

 

[Glen Romine]

Don't have a wxworks, nor plan to anytime soon, but will offer a few tips nevertheless based on what I've read from others, etc....

First, echo tops is apparently valuable in noting first radar echoes for developing storms that may not be visual owing to haze, or distance. Since precipitation in storms first develops at mid-levels, it can be several minutes after precipitations starts to develop in the storm before the first radar echo is displayed at the base scan. So, the echo tops product can give you a 'signal' of these developing storms earlier.

Second, since the levels of intensity and echo shape in the product lack much information, you should animate the reflectivity product to look for deviant storm motion as a possible indicator of a storm with a strong mesocyclone, as these are more likely to produce a tornado.

Third, take the time to make a good forecast before heading out and looking at other information sources. A good forecast will usually have you in the right area to begin with and make it easier to adjust based on informaion from the sources mentioned above.

Glen

 

[Greg Stumpf]

First, echo tops is apparently valuable in noting first radar echoes for developing storms that may not be visual owing to haze, or distance. Since precipitation in storms first develops at mid-levels, it can be several minutes after precipitations starts to develop in the storm before the first radar echo is displayed at the base scan.

Since the reflectivity data is assumingly from a vertical composite (max in the vertical column), then any echoes developing aloft should immediately be recognizable on the reflectivity product.

 

[Greg Stumpf]

Third, take the time to make a good forecast before heading out and looking at other information sources. A good forecast will usually have you in the right area to begin with and make it easier to adjust based on informaion from the sources mentioned above.

Agreed!

Here's an example of "Threat Net Cancer" (IMHO):

1. Locate bullseye of highest tornado probability contour on SPC outlook.
2. Drive there.
3. Watch for strongest echo with highest number of "low-level locks" on Threat Net.
4. Drive there.

Where's the challenge? Where's the the skill?

 

[Rob_Davis]

Where's the challenge? Where's the the skill?

Does it work?

 

[Glen Romine]

Since the reflectivity data is assumingly from a vertical composite (max in the vertical column), then any echoes developing aloft should immediately be recognizable on the reflectivity product.

My understanding is that it is not a vertical composite reflectivity - since I've several times been told and read on ST and elsewhere the echo tops feature shows a signal earlier than the reflectivity plot. Perhaps a wxworks owner could shed more light on how these products are generated.

Glen

 

[Aaron Kennedy]

To each their own I suppose.

While I would never rely solely on one source of information, I will admit WX-WORX would of been extremely handy once convection fired on 12 June 2005. We had no data once we left Childress. Had I'd seen the radar, I *probably* would of quickly ditched the northern storm... not even giving it a second thought (original plan, but it spun up nicely as we were drivng S). It hurts driving back home knowing you missed half a dozen tornadoes by a thirty minute drive when you are 4 hours from home.

Aaron

 

[Robert Dewey]

I don't plan on getting a "Threat Net" either. I would go for a mobile satellite internet service before I get one of those. I seriously hate the "cartoon radar" as some people like to call it - It looks more like the old MDR data than NEXRAD. But, I could see a use for it for data void areas, or those who don't want to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for a mobile internet setup. If the folks that make Threat-net were to provide a higher resolution image, it would be more worthwhile...

The internet has so much information that is useful to me, such as visible satellite, SFC data, mesoanalysis, etc.. I can usually just setup my GEMPAK machine to upload a visible sat image or L2 image centered on a location I select, which is pretty nifty...

 

[Chris Sokol]

I went ahead and made this topic a sticky for now, mainly due to the fact that this topic possibly affects a large number of chasers.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I don't know how the echo tops feature on XM is generated, but I do know it works. I have found it to be very reliable in showing the stronger areas of convergence. Some times the tops feature will show towers going up for 30 minutes to an hour before anything shows up on radar (usually 15-30 minutes warning before showing up on radar). BTW You could accomplish the same thing and more with a visible satellite image, but internet via satellite phone is expensive and regular cell coverage is spotty.

The "satellite" feature on XM is a joke. Don't plan on obtaining any useful data from it.

I think the "winds" feature on XM is pretty worthless too. The only thing I ever use it for is locating approximately where the surface low is.

I wouldn't bother using the new "fronts" product either. I have only checked it a few times and it is usually off by hundreds of miles. It is accurate immediately after it updates on occasions, but not usually.

IMO the "sensor" product is one of the most valuable tools you get with XM. For those who don't know, it is essentially a surface chart updated every hour. It is great for last minute forecasting and identifying mesoscale features that could be very important.

The "strikes" feature is something I started using this year. When there are multiple cells competing it can give you a good idea of who is winning. I think it is pretty accurate and it is something I always watch when I am trying to figure out what storms are strengthing.

Don't rely too heavily on the "radar". When storms collapse they will continue to show strong reflectivity on radar for a long time. You have to pay attention and trust your eyes. If you are new to chasing and don't really know what you are looking at, your first clue that the storm is collapsing is that the updraft base will erode and the radar will start to show the storm West of its actual location.

I can't think of anything else worth saying except you should probably get the GPS unit if you don't have it already and you might have to reset your COM port settings each time you start up threatnet if your GPS isn't working.