• Now this is really cool! A multi-dimensional (5-D) interpretation of the ETA and RUC forecast models. It requires software which you can download.....check it out!  Courtesy of Texas A&M.

• On March 29, 1998, an outbreak of tornadoes hit southern Minnesota. This is very unusual for this time of year....very early. Several towns were hit hard with severe damage. Fortunately, the warning network performed very well and saved many lives. there are two excellent links related to this event. Minneapolis NWSFO has some cool radar images and damage details....check it out!  On another site, CIMMS has an excellent satellite and surface analysis of the outbreak...another excellent study....check it out!

• Project VORTEX on NOAA's "Quest Series" website. If you are interested in the research of how tornadoes form, then do not pass this site up. Check it out!
 
• Doppler On Wheels (DOW) has a cool page giving an insight to technical details concerning these mobile doppler radar trucks and the projects they have been involved in including Project ROTATE.  Check it out!
 
• An F4 tornado ripped through Spencer, South Dakota on 05/30/98 destroying most of the town. Another major tragedy in a terrible year for tornadoes. NWSFO of Fargo has a page dedicated to this event with pictures, radar images including Doppler On Wheels and a link to CIMMS concerning an excellent satellite analysis. Another well documented case bringing us closer to understanding these vicious storms. Check it out.
 
• A major advancement in weather forecasting and analysis since the Doppler radar is the mesonet networks. A mesonet network consists of automated weather stations spaced apart by 30-75 miles which measure all sorts of data. This is vitally important to mesoscale forecasting and observations since it fills in large gaps not covered by traditional observation methods. There is an effort underway to create an even better Texas mesonet system spearheaded by Texas A&M and Texas Tech University. This would be a major asset to everybody living in Texas, especially to stormchasers.  Check it out

• A really great study and analysis of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.... a sort of advanced storm spotter training course. With great photos and graphics, you gain a much more thorough understanding of severe storm dynamics. A must for newer chasers and a great refresher for those experienced. Three thumbs up! Check it out!

• Ever see a Dust Spout? They are giant dust devils created by unique but not fully understood phenomena. I found a site that has some great pictures and analysis. If you didn't know any better, you would think you were looking at tornadoes! Check it out!

• A very detailed analysis of the Oakfield, Wisconsin tornado on July 18, 1996. The town of about 1000 people was devastated. This is yet another excellent study in severe weather forecasting along with good basic instruction for those new to forecasting. Check it out!

• An excellent "play by play" analysis of a severe hailstorm that occurred July 13, 1997 around Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Baseball to softball sized hail devastated a large area. Excellent radar loops, satellite soundings and images, along with damage pictures. An excellent study in severe storm forecasting. Check it out!
 
JARRELL, TX.  TORNADO LINKS

• A slide presentation at the AMS Radar Conference at Austin on September, 1997 was presented by researchers at Texas A&M. They had run different scenarios of the Jarrell storm in a simulation program. Each scenario used a different set of parameters from the mesoscale boundary to instability. Some very interesting results occurred. Check it out!

• Texas A&M actually sent a chase team out after the storm. They launched several radiosondes in an attempt to measure the storm relative environment. There is also some nice radar loops as well. This site is still being expanded upon, so check back often....check it out!

• The official National Weather Service assessment, survey and analysis of the Jarrell tornado is now available online. This is an outstanding publication covering all aspects of the event in great detail. I recommend this very highly for anybody interested in severe weather. I was completely absorbed in reading this publication, especially the meteorological analysis.  It is in .pdf format, so you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it which you can get here. A MUST READ!!!  Check it out!!

• The Storm Prediction Center has a great review of the Jarrell, Texas tornado along with some great radar and satellite loops. Check it out

• An in-depth satellite & data analysis of the Jarrell, TX tornado from CIRA. It may take awhile to download, even at 28.8, but is darned well worth it! Included are some additional links to doppler radar sequences and other info about the tragic event. Check it out! 

• The  GOES-8 Soundings found under the satellite section are considered "experimental". However, they are proving to be reliable and extremely useful.  Soundings can be taken anywhere, anytime without relying on fixed surface stations. The only drawback is that the soundings cannot be done through cloudy areas.
Check out the Goes-8 analysis of the Jarrell Tornado.

• Another excellent analysis from the National Climatic Data Center on the Jarrell tragedy. Great satellite and NEXRAD loops. It takes awhile to download at 28.8, but really worth it! Check it out!
 
• I found the ftp site for CIRA which includes LOTS of images and pics of the Jarrell event. There is no catalog or description of each image, so you'll just have to "shop", but it is a fun way to spend the cold winter months waiting for violent rotating convection to once again rule the plains. I have two links here to help shorten the trip...either one is excellent. Check it out #1   and   Check it out #2

• The following are some other excellent links to the Jarrell tragedy. Check them out!
 Austin 360        Dallas Morning News
 
 
(back to the top)