Day 123: Another V2 Pass

Posted by pmarsh on 3 May 2010 | 0 comments

For the past few days, VORTEX II has been hoping that a cold pool aloft (associated with a shortwave trough) would provide enough instability to allow severe thunderstorms to developing across northern Texas during the day today.  The area circled above is the cloud cover developed in response to the lift associated with the aforementioned shortwave tough.  Unfortunately, low-level moisture and wind-fields didn’t appear supportive of thunderstorms with a tornado potential.  As such, the VORTEX II crew decided to pass on targeting northern Texas today.  Instead most of the armada has left Norman for points “unknown” (*wink wink*) to have the first formal gathering of the crew.  Tomorrow morning is the “all-hands” meeting, orientation, and safety reminder.  Hopefully later this week will provide something for the VORTEX II crew to target…