Highest PW Value Recorded

[Ptarmigan]

I wonder what is the highest precipitable water (PW) ever recorded? I rarely see PW value above 2".

[Aslkahuna]

Last week saw PWs up to 2.0 inches over SE AZ.

Steve

[cyclogenesis]

Ptarmigan ~~


I've recently witenessed PW's, Precipitable Waters, of 2.60" to 2.80" here in the New Orleans area in the past few weeks.


An easy way to check is go look at GOES sounder data over the Tropical Regions during summer-time, to have a look-see what they're running at. Here's another place you can look: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real- ... /main.html To translate, you divide the number on the legend scale to the right by the number 25, to get PW's in inches. Only thing is, that the obeserved PW's I've seen, go higher & off the scale than what that website's upper bound limit is.


I typically check & do this when there's a budding cyclone that is poised to affect my service area of the Northern Gulf states.


I always look at observed & forecast levels of PW's & deep-layer, mean R.H.'s to see if there's any interrupting dry air around.



-- cyclogenesis

[Ptarmigan]

Ptarmigan ~~


I've recently witenessed PW's, Precipitable Waters, of 2.60" to 2.80" here in the New Orleans area in the past few weeks.


An easy way to check is go look at GOES sounder data over the Tropical Regions during summer-time, to have a look-see what they're running at. Here's another place you can look: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real- ... /main.html To translate, you divide the number on the legend scale to the right by the number 25, to get PW's in inches. Only thing is, that the obeserved PW's I've seen, go higher & off the scale than what that website's upper bound limit is.


I typically check & do this when there's a budding cyclone that is poised to affect my service area of the Northern Gulf states.


I always look at observed & forecast levels of PW's & deep-layer, mean R.H.'s to see if there's any interrupting dry air around.



-- cyclogenesis

That's really wet! I remember when Hurricane Alex was around, there were PW values as high as 3".