Early History of Using Total Lightning Data at NWS Melbourne, Florida

Stephen J Hodanish,Robert Boldi,Earle Williams

doi:10.55599/ejssm.v8i6.51

Abstract

This forecaster’s note documents the early history (1989–1998) of the use of total lightning data within an operational forecast and warning environment. As early as 1989, the Melbourne field office of the National Weather Service had access to real-time cloud-to-ground lightning data. In 1993, the Lightning Detection and Ranging system (capable of detecting all types of lightning flashes) became available. In 1996, these two lightning data sets, along with radar data, were incorporated into the Lightning Imaging Sensor Data Applications Display (LISDAD) system. During a 3-y period (1996–1998 inclusive), the LISDAD permitted forecasters to observe relationships of total lightning with a variety of convective events, including pulse-severe thunderstorms in the warm season, cool-season tornadic supercells, tornadic mini-supercells in tropical cyclones, and non-severe storms. Major findings included: 1) “lightning jumps” with warm-season pulse-severe storms several minutes prior to reported severe weather; 2) cool-season tornadic supercell storms with very large total flash rates; and 3) tornadic mini-supercells in tropical cyclones produced only small amounts of lightning, however this sporadic activity benefited forecasters by implying stronger updraft development in a favorably sheared environment, in turn implying possible storm rotation and potential tornadogenesis. Finally, given the availability of total lightning datasets to operational forecasters, local forecast products could more effectively provide the public information about the overall lightning threat.

Highlights

The Melbourne (MLB) office of the NationalWeather Service (NWS) is located in the centralFlorida peninsula, a region well-documented for receiving frequent lightning.Both climatologically (Hodanish et al, 1997; Orville and Huffines 2001; Orville et al 2011) and statistically (Ashley and Gibson 2009; NOAA2013a,b), lightning is a primary hazard to people and property alike (Curran et al 2000).Corresponding author address: Stephen Hodanish, NOAA/NationalWeather Service (NWS)/WeatherForecast Office, 3 Eaton Way, Pueblo COThe first type of lightning information to become routinely available to NWS MLB forecasters was cloud-to-ground (CG) flash data in 1989, courtesy of Atmospheric Research Systems Incorporated (ARSI) of nearby Palm Bay, FL
This paper has described the early history of using total lightning information in an operational NWS environment
CG lightning data became available to NWS MLB forecasters in 1989, about a decade before being routinely available to other NWS forecast offices

Summary

Introduction

A region well-documented for receiving frequent lightning. Both climatologically (Hodanish et al, 1997; Orville and Huffines 2001; Orville et al 2011) and statistically These data were the result of six IC flashes between 2332–2345 UTC. To satisfy the NWS mission of protection of life and property, NWS MLB forecasters in the early-to-mid 1990s began to use detailed lightning information in a variety of aviation and public products With access to both NLDN and LDAR data, forecasters identified five distinct lightning-diagnosis benefits: initiation, location, amount, trends (increasing, decreasing, movement), and cessation. Real-time graphical hazard products can be viewed at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/ghwo/ghwomain.p hp

Operationally oriented studies of total lightning

Findings

Summary