1. Okanagan Mountain Fire of August 2003: Radar Case Study
Robert’s Radar
Reminder
Okanagan Mountain Fire of August 2003: Radar Case Study
Taken from photo gallery (Rick Cohen).

2. Overview Discovered 4:21 AM August 16, 2003.
Grew from 2000 to 11,000 hectares August 19.
Nearly 250 homes burned August 21 and 22.
12 Kettle Valley trestles lost early September.
Reported 100% contained September 29 after burning 25,912 hectares.
Overview of some radar imagery showing various features.

3. Aug. 16: Lightning strike
From CLDN: strike recorded at 09:02:35 UTC, likely the one that sparked the blaze.

4. Aug. 17: First glimpse of fire
First glimpses of fire on radar.

5. Aug. 20: Directional shear
Directional wind shear: different elevation angles show plumes in different directions.

6. Aug. 21: Shifting winds
Shifting winds.

7. 500-mb chart at 00Z Aug. 22: heights of about 576 dam with SW flow.
Aug. 22: 500 mb chart
500-mb chart at 00Z Aug. 22: heights of about 576 dam with SW flow.

8. Aug. 22: Surface chart
Surface chart at 00Z Aug. 22nd. Apparent light pressure gradients at surface.

9. YLW SA 0000 -X E80 BKN 11/2FU 063/24.8/9.8/1804/FU8AC1 6028 UNOFF
Aug. 22: YLW SAs
YLW SA X E80 BKN 11/2FU 063/24.8/9.8/1804/FU8AC UNOFF
YLW SP X 11/4FU ///1602/FU9 UNOFF
YLW SA X 1FU 058/24.6/9.4/0000/FU9 UNOFF
YLW SA X E110 BKN 1FU 057/23.0/9.5/0000/FU8AC1 UNOFF
YLW SA X E90 BKN 1FU 060/20.1/9.6/0000/FU8AC UNOFF
YLW SP X E90 BKN 2FU ///0000/FU8AC1 UNOFF
YLW SA X 21/2FU 068/19.0/9.0/0000/FU9 UNOFF
YLW SA X 3FU 075/17.7/9.0/0000/FU9 RMK VIS N 5 UNOFF
Note light winds for Kelowna Airport.

10. Aug. 22: YLW tephi
Kelowna tephigram for 00Z Aug. 22nd: lower levels unstable and very dry. Winds aloft mixed down.

11. Echo tops exceed 6 km over fire, then decrease downwind rapidly.
Aug. 22: Echo tops
Echo tops exceed 6 km over fire, then decrease downwind rapidly.

12. Aug. 22: Fire inflow
Fire inflow detected.

13. Tops for Friday evening slightly lower.
Aug. 23: Echo tops
Tops for Friday evening slightly lower.

14. Some indication of fire inflow for Friday evening.
Aug. 23: Fire inflow
Some indication of fire inflow for Friday evening.

15. Incoming CBs change plume pattern.
Aug. 23: Incoming CBs
Incoming CBs change plume pattern.

16. Maximum rain accumulations before cell moves over fire.
Aug. 23: Accumulations
Maximum rain accumulations before cell moves over fire.

17. Sep. 2: Plume further east
Note plume source now about 10 km further to the east.

18. Kettle Valley fire: note wavering of smoke plume.
Sep. 3: Wavering plume
Kettle Valley fire: note wavering of smoke plume.

19. Sep. 4: Flare-up
Flare-up (due to gustfront from approaching cell??); complex wind pattern in plume.

20. Slow veering of winds; zero-isodop highlights turbulent winds.
Sep. 5: Veering winds
Slow veering of winds; zero-isodop highlights turbulent winds.

21. Sep. 6: Narrow plume
Strong winds yield narrow plume; some indication of low level jet ahead of approaching cold front.

22. What we all were waiting for: RAIN!
Sep. 8: Rain!
What we all were waiting for: RAIN!

23. Summary Strong diurnal cycle to plume echoes
No echoes – fire still burns
→ XSS part time fire watch tower
Low elevation angles detect more of fire
Higher elevation angles good for intensities
Rich detail in Vr fields, including inflows
Much data available when sufficient smoke, usually during P.M.