4. Forecast Applications

Convection » Heavy Precip./Flash Floods Example 1: Central U.S.

This sounding from the central Plains of the U.S. (Norman, Oklahoma) in August of 2003 is typical of a sounding associated with heavy precipitation in the central U.S.

Sounding taken at Norman, OK, 0000 UTC, 31 Aug 2003

Skew-T Parameters:

  • Instability:
  • Low-level moisture and precipitation efficiency:
  • Wind profileWind profile:
    • Weak low-level jet: winds at 700 hPa = 22 kt
    • Weak wind shear in the mid-troposphere