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Integrated Sensor Training (IST) Professional Development Series

Forecasting Convective Downburst Potential Using GOES Sounder Derived Products

Ken Pryor
 Center for Satellite Applications and Research (NOAA/NESDIS)

1) Introduction

    The objective of this session is to better understand and utilize techniques for predicting the risk of convective downbursts using GOES sounder derived product data.

2) Prerequisites

    This is a basic course.

    There are no prerequisites.

3) Teletraining Installation Instructions


4) Training Session Options:

    A.) The interactive VISITview training session. (To be used with a VISIT instructor leading the session ). Click here to signup for teletraining. The session will last 60 minutes. This teletraining session uses the VISITview software, where Windows PC with an Internet connection is needed.

    B.) Web-based training session - a "stand alone" version viewed via a Web browser, with embedded talking points included. This lesson version may be viewed at any time. These slides are ideal for printing from the web-browser, just print preview first to choose portrait or landscape mode. Best viewed with Internet Explorer or Netscape (prior to version 6).

    C.) local Visitview session - This is the same version of the lesson used in a "live" VISITview teletraining session, but no connection is made to an external VISITview server. You may download the file off this page and go through the lesson on your own in "local mode" by starting the "visitlocal.bat" file. Talking points are not included in this lesson version, but can be viewed in a separate Web browser ( or printed out beforehand).


5) References/Additional Links

    GOES Microburst Products

    WINDEX Validation Paper

    WMSI Validation Paper

    GOES Sounding Point Retrievals in AWIPS VISIT session

    Atkins, N.T., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1991: Wet microburst activity over the southeastern United States: Implications for forecasting. Wea. Forecasting, 6, 470-482.

    Ellrod, G.P., 1989: Environmental conditions associated with the Dallas microburst storm determined from satellite soundings. Wea. Forecasting, 4, 469-484.

    Ellrod, G.P., J.P. Nelson, M.R. Witiw, L. Bottos, and W.P. Roeder, 2000: Experimental GOES sounder products for the assessment of downburst potential. Wea. Forecasting, 15, 527-542.

    Fujita, T.T., 1978: Manual of downburst identification for project NIMROD. SMRP Research Paper 156, University of Chicago, 104 pp.

    Fujita, T.T., 1981: Tornadoes and downbursts in the context of generalized planetary scales. J. Atmos. Sci., 38, 1511-1534.

    Fujita, T.T., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1983: Microbursts in JAWS depicted by Doppler radars, PAM and aerial photographs. Preprings, 21st Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Edmonton, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 638-645.

    McCann, D.W., 1994: WINDEX-A new index for forecasting microburst potential. Wea. Forecasting, 9, 532-541.

    Przybylinski, R.W., and W.J. Gery, 1983: The reliability of the bow echo as an important severe weather signature. Preprints, 13th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Tulsa, OK, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 270-273.

    Rinehart, R.E., 1997: Radar for Meteorologists. Rinehart Publications, Grand Forks, ND, 428pp.

    Wakimoto, R.M., 1985: Forecasting dry microburst activity over the high plains. Mon. Wea. Rev., 113, 1131-1143.

    Wakimoto, R.M., 2001: Convectively driven high wind events. Severe Convective Storms, C.A. Doswell, Ed., Amer. Meteor. Soc., 255-298.


6) Train the trainer
    Talking points (PDF document) - these may be used by local offices in tandem with the visitview training session (run in local mode - "visitlocal.bat"). The talking points may be printed out to easily review the session in detail at any time. The web page version contains talking points embedded in each slide (useful for printing).
7) Content developed/updated
    Developed: 2004
    Updated: 2008
8) Information contact