Microburst windspeed potential assessment: progress and recent developments

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent developments in GOES-based microburst windspeed assessment tools, comparing sounder and imager products, and presents validation results and operational case studies from the 2009 season.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of GOES sounder and imager microburst products and evaluates their effectiveness in operational forecasting.

Findings

Both products effectively assess microburst potential.

Validation shows reliable performance during the 2009 season.

Operational case studies demonstrate practical utility.

Abstract

Recent testing and validation have found that the GOES microburst products are effective in the assessment and short-term forecasting of downburst potential and associated wind gust magnitude. Two products, the GOES sounder Microburst Windspeed Potential Index and the multispectral GOES imager product have demonstrated capability in downburst potential assessment. Each microburst product consists of a set of predictor variables that generates output of expected microburst risk. This paper compares and contrasts the sounder and imager microburst products and outlines the advantages of each product in the nowcasting process. An updated assessment of the sounder MWPI and imager microburst products, case studies demonstrating effective operational use of the microburst products, and validation results for the 2009 convective season over United States Great Plains is presented.