Currently only Base Reflectivity and Base Velocity in the lowest tilt have been upgraded. The NWS will be doing these upgrades in phases, until by the end of the year every tilt is included and the legacy products will stop being sent. Base Reflectivity has increased from 4-bit data to 8-bit data, but the pixel sizes have remained the same. That means that there is higher res data just within the same area of measurement. Base Velocity, however, has greatly reduced from 1km pixels to 250m or 275m (cant remember) pixel sizes, allowing for smaller, more accurate velocity measurements.  Here are a few examples below…

Base Reflectivity: (click for larger image)

(Legacy BR: Unsmoothed)

(High-Res BR: Unsmoothed)

Unfortunately I do not have an example of the Base Velocity, but you can take my word for it that it is a much better resolution!

If you have GRlevel3, you need to go to the GRlevelx owner forums and download the v1.71 update to view Southern region data.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year, and I pray that 2010 will bring blessings to any and all!

SEAN CASEY AT THE BAT – premieres Nov. 29, 2009 at 9 p.m. E/P
Wyoming sets the stage for an epic tornado showdown. Sean Casey’s meteorology scouts finally put him in position for the IMAX shot of a lifetime and this time he hits a home run. Josh Wurman’s Vortex 2 science team makes history, achieving the most complete tornado life cycle data ever recorded.

EF-3 STRIKES YOU’RE OUT- premieres Nov. 29, 2009 at 10 p.m. E/P

On the last chase of the season, Reed and Tim have one last chance to achieve their ultimate goals, but the Nebraska storms won’t give up their secrets without a fight. Tim and Reed intercept multiple tornadoes, trying to capture inside-a-twister radar data. But when a twister intensifies into a monster wedge right on top of Reed’s armored research vehicle, Mother Nature shows who really dominates in Tornado Alley.

Today Reed Timmer released the footage of his monster intercept, showing the tornado intensifying right on top of them. The footage is quite epic, and is well worth the look! Be sure to tune in and watch the finale!

On another note regarding the weather, I apoligize for the recent lack of updates. The weather has been quite calm as of late, not to mention I have been out of town. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and keep warm!

The slideshow in the briefing room talked about their office, how radar works, some interesting statistics, and other very cool stuff! I do not have any pictures of that, but plenty of the other things. After that, we took a tour of their operations room, where two meteorologists that issue warnings/advisories and monitor current weather data. During hazardous/severe weather, the majority of the staff is in office monitoring the weather and issuing warnings. In there they have a computer that is broadcasting NOAA Weather Radio 24/7, and they talked about that a little bit. There is also a station where Amateur  Radio operators work and take reports from SKYWARN Storm Spotters and deliver the message to the meteorologists working. After this we got a tour around the grounds, and got to see a weather balloon with a radiosonde attached. A radiosonde is an expensive instrument that measures upper air data up to about 100,000 feet in the air.

Well, enough talk. Here are the pictures you have been waiting for! Click on an image for a larger view.

[quote]The National Weather Service office in Nashville, Tennessee is conducting a Severe Weather Awareness Day on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. The purpose of this day is to call attention to the secondary peak severe weather season that begins in the late fall. November historically has been a very active month for severe weather and tornadoes.[quote]

(Image from the National Weather Service in Nashville)

November has produced 48 different tornadoes, dating back to 1885. Some really powerful tornadoes have struck in november, most being F2, but 1 F3 and 1 F4.

Here is an excerpt from the National Weather Service page:

November 10 2002- Middle Tennessee suffers one of its worst autumn severe weather outbreaks ever. Four tornadoes strike the Highland Rim during the early morning, with 2 fatalities in Port Royal. Then, following record high temperatures at Nashville (81) and Crossville (75), severe weather re-ignites during the late afternoon, with widespread wind damage, hail, and 8 additonal tornadoes. Lake Tansi Village, south of Crossville, is hardest hit, as a supercell produces baseball-size hail and an F3 tornado, killing 4. Two additional fatalities occur at New Union (Coffee County) as the result of two F2 tornadoes there. In addition to the 8 fatalities, 51 injuries are reported across the area. This is the 5th largest tornado outbreak in mid state history.

[Quote] Right now is the perfect time of the year to check your preparedness plans! [quote]

PLEASE read the rest of the information here on the National Weather Service page. Go to http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/swaw/fall_severe_weather_awareness.php

Be safe, and spread the word about Fall Severe Weather Awareness Day!

Shoutbox:

This shoutbox allows users to leave shout-outs with smiley faces! Leave comments, suggestions, or even have a conversation over the shoutbox! There is NO refreshing required with it, it automatically updates itself!

Who Is Online:

At the bottom of the page, it will tell you how many people are online. it is seperated into ‘Guests’ and ‘Members’

Live Radar:

I know I have mentioned this before, but I find it so cool that I just have to say it again =)

And here comes the big one……

User Forum!

There is now a user forum! This forum is COMPLETELY integrated with this website, so if you have an account on here and log in, it automatically logs you into the forum as well. If you create a new account, it is automatically integrated to the forum. Seamless and powerful! The point is for user discussions on blog updates, or other weather going on. From education to severe weather, this forum if for your discussion! The sidebar also contains a recent post list for the forum.

Blog posts are automatically posted in the forum, and if you comment on it, it creates a post in the forum. Also, it works the other way around. If you make a post in the forum, it makes a comment! PLEASE use these features!

I hope these features are enjoyed!

Post Ratings:

There is also a post rating system, that uses tornado icons and the EF-Scale

For those who need a link…  http://tempestchasing.com/?page_id=290