Comparisons of Observations by WSR-88D and High Resolution Mobile Doppler Radar in Tornadoes and a Hurricane

This study compares observations from the Doppler on Wheels DOW radar and the WSR-88D radars to identify any features that are important to forecasting that the WSR-88D may be missing. WSR-88D and DOW data were compared for the Dimmitt Tornado on 2 June 1995 during VORTEX 95, the Rolla Tornado on 31 May 1996, and Hurricane Fran on 5-6 September 1996. For Hurricane Fran, the reflectivity features and velocity features were compared. Small scale features in the wind field, believed to be sub-kilometer scale boundary layer rolls were discovered. It has been suggested that these are responsible for some of the small scale intense damage found in the aftermaths of some hurricanes. These rolls were also visible in the KLTX data but were not as well defined. For the two tornado cases the strength the difference between the maximum inbound velocity and the maximum outbound velocity were examined. As expected the strength observed by the WSR-88D was about 50 less than that observed by the DOW. This was compared with predictions of Burgess 1993.