Surface Meteorological Observations in Severe Thunderstorms. Part II: Field Experiments with TOTO

Abstract

The TOTO (Totable Tornado Observatory) device was field tested in the Southern Plains by a severe-storm intercept team from the University of Oklahoma from late May through early June 1981. The results from two intercept missions and a gust-front intercomparison at the National Severe Storms laboratory are discussed. Measurements are presented of wind speed, wind direction, pressure and temperature made underneath a rotating wall cloud and within 1.5 km of two tornadoes. A damage survey and a Doppler-radar observed mesocyclone-signature track were used in conjunction with the TOTO data to obtain an estimate of the maximum wind speed inside one of the tornadoes.