Get Val On The Getner
- Thread starter Tony
- Start date
Rob Lancaster
Active Member
Hey Tulsa is still kick'n! Fox is covering it all...
RandyDSok
Well-Known Member
Rob Lancaster
Active Member
WILD!!!!!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RandyDSok
Well-Known Member
Your missing tornadoes man.... LMAO...
The data on that web app is from the same NWS data as what Tony and I are using with the software but... Ours is using the full Level3 data which is the lowest resolution that NWS provides ( Level2 data is higher res )... and what that web app is displaying is even lower res than what we are seeing in the software we are using and it also only provides you with 3 different radar products, reflectivity ( 2 modes ), velocity ( 2 modes ) and 2 modes of a rain estimate for the last hour or storm total rain. What the software we are using provides about has about 11 different radar products with different modes and tilts available to some of them.
The question becomes, is what you posted all that you want/need? There are certainly better radar websites than what the one NWS provides and would likely be enough for most people. Then there are also apps such as Radarscope that would provide more than most people need and is relatively cheap in comparison to even the software we are running.
Check out the local news station website to see if they may provide a better radar for you to look at or not. If you do think you need a little more, then look into Radarscope ( a paid app ) perhaps ( or possibly other free smartphone apps ). If you are an enthusiast or a pro needing more customization, then something like what we are using is where you'd start ( but may want/need the higher end stuff also ). The smartphone apps are very handy since you can take them anywhere you can get cell data... A Windows program like we are using are nice if you are in a fixed location and are in need of much more customization.
D.O.G.
Goblin 380 Supporter
I'm not sure how close these storms are to you guys but what they are showing here in Florida, the last couple of days, that it's a mess over there and a lot of water rescue going on at the moment. Their showing a whole lot of flooding and more to come. With the videos, it's not looking good. The wife and I hope you guys are safe and doing fine.
RandyDSok
Well-Known Member
Yesterday's weather event was certainly a big one... perhaps not as big as all of the indicators were pointing towards but it was still quite a bit of severe weather.
Thankfully the expected large and long track tornadoes didn't pan out as they expected. Heaven knows the amount of instability for that to happen was there. We had cape figures well into the mid 4000's for the better part of the day into the evening. Cape is a value of how much instability power exists, 2500-4000 is considered very high with anything over 4000 being considered extreme. Last count of tornadoes that I heard ( and I haven't kept up with the stats at all ) is almost 20 of them across the state, which isn't a number to scoff at, I just don't think it was as many nor were they as large as was expected.
Flooding we certainly got in spades as they say. The ground in most places was already saturated and then add to it the large rain amounts we saw in many places and it is a recipe for disaster in it's own right. In Norman, we got about 3", most of it was overnight, other places north of here saw up to and over 8" being the largest reports that I saw. I went by Lake Thunderbird a couple of times today and it's out of it's banks with water in areas that are normally just grass already. This is before any of the run off water has had time to reach use from the north. The only time I've seen it higher was back in 2015 where it flooded over the Twin Bridges on Alameda on the north side of the lake. I'm uncertain how long after that rain it was before that flooding happened, but the next coming days will tell if things reach that level or not. I do know that I don't recall ever hearing of I-40 over by El Reno ever being flooded and that certainly has happened with this last rain.
I didn't hear yet how bad any of the hail may have been. I did check my composite reflectivity a time or two while this event was happening and I did see a lot of hail cores at those times. How much actually made it to the ground is still to be decided by those folks that collect those types of stats.
I do have a way to see the general amount of lightning but not a way to get any counts. So all I know is that when I turned on my lightning placefile that it covered up the radar, but that isn't uncommon on any severe event so I can't make any guesstimate even on that either.
While the weather forecaster I was watching didn't really hype anything he was reporting on as it happened... I know the media in general will. They will call it the "worst ever" or the "biggest bust ever" which ever way that they think will bring the most views. The weather "enthusiasts" are often not much better with many of them ignoring everything except the things that tilt their fancy. We just have to ignore the hype when we see it...
Thankfully the expected large and long track tornadoes didn't pan out as they expected. Heaven knows the amount of instability for that to happen was there. We had cape figures well into the mid 4000's for the better part of the day into the evening. Cape is a value of how much instability power exists, 2500-4000 is considered very high with anything over 4000 being considered extreme. Last count of tornadoes that I heard ( and I haven't kept up with the stats at all ) is almost 20 of them across the state, which isn't a number to scoff at, I just don't think it was as many nor were they as large as was expected.
Flooding we certainly got in spades as they say. The ground in most places was already saturated and then add to it the large rain amounts we saw in many places and it is a recipe for disaster in it's own right. In Norman, we got about 3", most of it was overnight, other places north of here saw up to and over 8" being the largest reports that I saw. I went by Lake Thunderbird a couple of times today and it's out of it's banks with water in areas that are normally just grass already. This is before any of the run off water has had time to reach use from the north. The only time I've seen it higher was back in 2015 where it flooded over the Twin Bridges on Alameda on the north side of the lake. I'm uncertain how long after that rain it was before that flooding happened, but the next coming days will tell if things reach that level or not. I do know that I don't recall ever hearing of I-40 over by El Reno ever being flooded and that certainly has happened with this last rain.
I didn't hear yet how bad any of the hail may have been. I did check my composite reflectivity a time or two while this event was happening and I did see a lot of hail cores at those times. How much actually made it to the ground is still to be decided by those folks that collect those types of stats.
I do have a way to see the general amount of lightning but not a way to get any counts. So all I know is that when I turned on my lightning placefile that it covered up the radar, but that isn't uncommon on any severe event so I can't make any guesstimate even on that either.
While the weather forecaster I was watching didn't really hype anything he was reporting on as it happened... I know the media in general will. They will call it the "worst ever" or the "biggest bust ever" which ever way that they think will bring the most views. The weather "enthusiasts" are often not much better with many of them ignoring everything except the things that tilt their fancy. We just have to ignore the hype when we see it...
Rob Lancaster
Active Member
This is very interesting. I had no idea software was available to enhance my local radar.
Oh hey,,, my local news stations here use the same 4 radar sites in Hawaii as I do. The graphics are even the same. Their located on south Kauai, west Molokai, North Kohala and South point Hawaii Island... I don't know of any other radars here. Private or other wise.
Hawaii is always behind the times. For example, the Molokai radar (the one I depend on) is off line constantly! The message is always the same,, "we need parts from the mainland and the radar should return to service soon...
I sent a couple of nasty grams but I don't think it set in. The radar was off line again today!!! I hope you guys have a better radar online time than I do.
Anyway thanks and I'm going back to the other thread to study more on the radar...
RandyDSok
Well-Known Member
Well the Molokai radar is up at this moment at least. Still when it comes to the types of radar we use across the USA, parts are an issue constantly. The WSR-88D's radar were developed back in 1988 and major parts are no longer being made... so they are constantly repairing them and there are only a limited supply of spare parts that must be shared among all of the radar sites.
For S&G's ... I switched to your preferred radar site, turned on the "pretty" satellite background and because my preferred color palette didn't show well against the blues of the ocean well... I switched to one that does. I'm zoomed out so most of the roads aren't showing besides the bigger ones... and I left the current temps showing...
Oh, if I had time, I'd probably tweak down the intensity of the lower radar returns so they'd be less obvious since this currently makes them look like they are denser than they are... but it gives you an idea at least.
For more S&G's ... here is what Radarscope's looks like ( at about the same color table intensity for the lower radar returns )....
PS... if you click on each of the images, they will go to a larger image if you want a little more detail to show
Rob Lancaster
Active Member
Oh man, I got some catch up to do...
Also, I can't believe the gov doesn't make sure the radar sites are stocked and maintained. If the Omega Navigation chain was run like that; heads would roll!!!!!
Yup defiantly more study on this is in order..
Thanks buddy!
Rster...
Also, I can't believe the gov doesn't make sure the radar sites are stocked and maintained. If the Omega Navigation chain was run like that; heads would roll!!!!!
Yup defiantly more study on this is in order..
Thanks buddy!
Rster...
RandyDSok
Well-Known Member
They do what they can within the budgets that Congress allows for them. The WSR-88D radar system have been and is being upgraded when possible. The electronics are the easiest for them to update ( relative statement since it's still quite the undertaking to design and create etc ) but the biggest issue with getting replacement parts are going to be the actual hardware that is used for the pedestal, radar horn and antenna etc. These parts aren't able to be mass produced, so you can't just go out and order a new bull ring for example ( the part the main dish antenna sits and spins on ). Estimated time to replace a bull ring is about 10 days. During that time, they must hoist up 15,000 lbs of equipment in order to lift the 4,000 lbs of the dish antenna assembly. They do keep a stock pile of replacement parts but it's not feasible to keep a large number of them due to their cost and the budget they must work within.
Originally they were planning to replace and modernize the radar network with the newer phased array type by 2022. Of course budget cuts certainly have played their role in slowing that adoption, but probably not as much as technical issues that they have had to work out. The initial designs they had working were unable to also provide the critically needed dual polarization technology they currently rely on so that initial project was shut down finally in 2016. In 2018, a new type was installed at their test site here at Westheimer Airport. It contains a single phased array panel that can see a full 90° without needing to be turned. To turn the panel, they use a similar pedestal as the current radar so they can get a full 360° of coverage. If things go as expected, they may use that style ( moving pedestal ) or may combine 4 ( or more ) panels so it won't require moving parts which could cut down on maintenance costs. They will make that decision after they get further into the testing and find out what limitations may exist.
RandyDSok
Well-Known Member
I think the Pauls Valley storm will stay south and east of you.... of course that doesn't mean something else won't develop.
I've been playing catch up since I got home. My second to the last job was in Purcell. Had to go east and take Hwy 77 on the way back in because they were working on the north bound lane of I-35 which was trying to impersonate a parking lot instead of being a highway. When I went across the Canadian River, it was full in its banks and in a few places just out of them. If I hadn't had a computer to finish up and deliver back to another computer, I'd have loved to swing out to Thunderbird and see if it's level had come up further from yesterday's level.
PS... I did wave in Tony's direction as I was passing his area...
Rob Lancaster
Active Member
WOW! I thought those large dishes and domes WERE the old system. Don't know the model type.. I say this because back in 1989 I spent the summer on the big island. There was this radio station in Hilo (KBIGFM) and they just installed the first weather radar in the state; or so I was told... I never heard about weather radar in Hawaii before then. One day I was sitting in my cabin listening to the radio and they said some heavy rain was about 2 minutes out from where I was located. I didn't think nothing about it, until about 2 minutes later, ha! It started to pour! I went up to the window in disbelief, but yeah, it's pouring all right; I was blown away! I was thinking, I wish we had this technology on Oahu.
However, before I return to Oahu for school I gotta see that set up! So one day I went to KBIGFM in Hilo. I stuck my head in the door and said, "hi I'm from Oahu and we don't have this radar there.. Can someone show me the system"? The very nice lady said "sure come on in!" "YES!!!" This guy walks down the hall and takes me into a room with computers for the radar system. He also showed me the antenna. It was not a huge golf ball looking round dome with two large dishes in it.
It was a kind of a small, tall half domed shape thing atop a fat mast. It was (I think) about 2 or 3 feet in diameter on the bottom and about 2 or 3 feet high. I know it was not big at all and I was amazed it had a 200 mile range. Again, that's what I was told.. I really don't think that our 4 radars here are those big giant ones. I thought they're these little jobs that I saw on the big island decades ago. If I'm wrong I want to know..
I did hear that there was some R/D going on with the latest phased array technology but when ever it does come out; Hawaii won't get it for at least 10/15 years; DOH!!!
Hey I'm still seeing action in tornado alley! Just maintain full power to the damn shields to be on the safe side...
Keep it coming friend...
Rster...
Tony
Staff member
Yea, we are all fine. Randy and I both love watching the radars (him more than me lol). If I didn't watch the radar, I would have been in my 'fraidy hole' multiple times. But because I can see exactly where the storm is going, I know if we are safe or not. I remember quite a few years ago having a very close call with a tornado within 1/4 mile of me. That is when I started really watching the radars.
But yea, we are just fine. Most interesting thing here lately though was the two barges that broke free and were heading towards a dam. They finally made it and the outcome was not what I was expecting.
But yea, we are just fine. Most interesting thing here lately though was the two barges that broke free and were heading towards a dam. They finally made it and the outcome was not what I was expecting.