Impressive GOES-16 View of Training Supercell Thunderstorms

(credit: NOAA GOES-16 Satellite)

DISCUSSION: As the Central United States woke up to the 1st of May this year, many millions of people woke up to the developing threat for widespread severe weather across portions of the Central Plains.  Based on the fact that there was an approaching low-pressure system from the west during the course of the day, this facilitated an effective surge of warm-air to the east of the cold front (i.e., within the warm sector of the strengthening low-pressure system). This surge of warm, moist air in the warm sector of this low-pressure system allowed for robust convective storms to develop during the course of the afternoon hours.  In addition, there was also a substantial amount of vertical wind shear which facilitate a more conducive low/mid-level atmospheric environment for rotating updrafts within these developing convective storms.  

As the deep convective storms fired up by around 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM CDT on 1 May 2018, there was also a fairly persistent presence of deeper vertical wind shear across a substantial portion of Nebraska.  This more persistent deep vertical wind shear allowed for more persistent supercell thunderstorm activity to persist through the mid- to late-evening hours as is reflected by the tweet attached above (courtesy of WeatherNation Meteorologist Dakota Smith).  It is also worth noting that such persistent late-night supercell thunderstorm activity is a MAJOR threat to both life and property since nocturnal convective storms can often bring prolific natural hazards which can “sneak up” on unsuspecting people in the path of such storms.  Therefore, if you are ever in the path of nocturnal convective storms, always be sure to remain aware of the current severe weather situation in your “neck of the woods.”  This way, whenever you are under a severe weather threat, always stay closely tuned to the local forecast as it evolves and always keep a severe weather plan in place.

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© 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz