May 8, 2003: Tornadic Supercell Author: Pam Heinselman, CIMMS/OU Last Updated: 20 May 2003

Forecast/Weather:

On 8 May 2003, a tornadic supercell developed initially near highway 34 and interstate I240, near Newcastle, creating damage across a path similar to that of 3 May 1999. This supercell was rain-wrapped during much of its lifetime, and, according to spotter reports, dropped little hail at the surface. Following this event, biological scatterers lit up KOUN for several hours (2-5 UTC).

Radar Operations:

Start time: 18:48 5/08/03 UTC (13:48 5/08/03 local time)
Stop time: 22:10 5/08/03 UTC (17:10 5/08/03 local time)

Start time: 22:28 5/08/03 UTC (17:28 5/08/03 local time)
Stop time: 05:02 5/09/03 UTC (07:02 5/08/03 local time)

Radar/Operational Status:

Hydrometeor Classification Algorithm: (Warm season

Operational Delivery:

TBD.

Snapshots: 1.5 deg Elevation

Figure 1: Radar reflectivity at 21:34 UTC 8 May 2003.	Figure 2: Differential reflectivity at 21:34 UTC 8 May 2003.
Figure 3: Specific differential phase at 21:34 UTC 8 May 2003.	Figure 4: Hydrometeor Classification Algorithm output at 21:34 UTC 8 May 2003.

Figure 5: Radar reflectivity at 22:29 UTC 8 May 2003.	Figure 6: Differential reflectivity at 22:29 UTC 8 May 2003.
Figure 7: Specific differential phase at 21:34 UTC 8 May 2003.	Figure 8: Hydrometeor Classification Algorithm output at 22:29 UTC 8 May 2003.

Following the tornado outbreak, a few weak convective cells formed within a bloom of biological scatterers around KOUN between 2-5 UTC 9 May 2003.

Figure 1: Radar reflectivity at 02:27 UTC 9 May 2003.

Figure 2: Differential reflectivity at 02:27 UTC 9 May 2003.

Figure 3: Specific differential phase at 02:27 UTC 9 May 2003.