Case Studies of Thunderstorms Initiated by Radar-Observed Convergence Lines

Abstract

This study analyzes two of the many convergent windshift lines that occurred during the Convection Initiation Project in eastern Colorado during the summer of 1984. The coincidence of these boundaries with the initiation of convection is examined by means or Doppler radar observations, surface mesonet data, and chase team verifications and measurement. The surface mesonet data and chase team measurements in both cases presented verify that a sensitive Doppler radar can effectively detect windshift lines. It is also shown that in both cases the convergent windshift lines were directly associated with thunderstorm development and were likely a primary forcing mechanism.