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Low Precipitation (LP) Supercells
lacking in liquid rainfall content
At the opposite end of the supercell scale is the Low Precipitation
(LP) supercell. For years, storm chasers have observed LP storms in
the Plains' states, usually in conjunction with a
dry line or
low pressure trough dividing dry, warm air to the west
from very humid air to the east.
These rotating storms typically
are quite small and lacking in liquid rainfall content.
[Image: diagram of LP supercell (54K)]
The
radar echo rarely contains a pendant or
hook, although the LP storm
may have a tight reflectivity gradient at the southwest
side. In many cases, the small size of the storm will not allow
for adequate "beam filling", especially at moderate to long range from
the radar. Therefore, the radar intensity of the small storm can be
drastically underestimated.
[Image: LP supercell (46K)]
Photograph by:
Doswell |
This northward view of an
LP storm in western Oklahoma shows both the
small size and the powerful nature of the updraft. This storm was
shrinking to an even smaller size at this time, which is how most
LP storms meet their demise. Note that the updraft tower is scarcely
any wider than the wall cloud. The storm earlier produced golf ball size
hail
and, although it rotated vigorously, it did not produce any tornadoes. |
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