SPC exper -for those that do not have

[Ed25]

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanaly ... ndex2.html

[Steve Cosby]

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/s1/index2.html

You can really see the differences in a hurricane versus a Mesoscale system through these graphs. Note the "Significant Severe" and other indicator maps. They don't even register the possibility of tornados even though we know that is very possible.

[PurdueWx80]

I love these new experimental analysis maps. They are EXTREMELY useful during the tornado season. I used them to help other students chase storms in the Midwest this summer and had a great success rate. The tornado parameter is so low because it takes into account instability, in addition to shear. There is little to no instability around Jeanne, which is why we don't see anything in this parameter. If you look at the surface vorticity fields overlaid by low-level CAPE, you'll see why there are so many tornadoes in tropical systems. There is a HUGE amount of shear very close to the ground. W/ the tropical nature of the atmosphere, it doesn't take much to form an updraft and we see condensation very close to the ground.

[Steve Cosby]

I love these new experimental analysis maps. They are EXTREMELY useful during the tornado season. I used them to help other students chase storms in the Midwest this summer and had a great success rate. The tornado parameter is so low because it takes into account instability, in addition to shear. There is little to no instability around Jeanne, which is why we don't see anything in this parameter. If you look at the surface vorticity fields overlaid by low-level CAPE, you'll see why there are so many tornadoes in tropical systems. There is a HUGE amount of shear very close to the ground. W/ the tropical nature of the atmosphere, it doesn't take much to form an updraft and we see condensation very close to the ground.

Being in tornado alley, I've been using these for a while also.

The voticity/CAPE explanation you gave makes perfect sense. In essence, the tornados in hurricanes are low level? Whereas in Mesoscale systems, the support at 700mb and higher has to be in place. Fascinating.