1. Tornadic Thunderstorm Case Study Dodge City, Kansas May 7, 2002 Linh Truong San Francisco State University Linh Truong San Francisco State University

2. Upper Air Chart at 12Z May 7, 2002  The closed low is located in the northwestern part of the country.  A surface low is evident over the Great Plains.  The closed low is located in the northwestern part of the country.  A surface low is evident over the Great Plains.

3. Upper Air Chart at 00Z May 8, 2002  The winds are geostrophic aloft and at the surface the winds are perpendicular due to the low pressure system. This causes shear.

4. Sounding at 00Z Topeka, Kansas  The sounding for KTOP shows small values of CAPE and large values of CINH.  The hodograph is veering.  3 km helicity is favorable only if there were thunderstorms.

5. Sounding at 00Z Norman, Oklahoma  The sounding for KOUN shows large values of CAPE and small values of CINH.  The hodograph shows a veering loop.  3 km helicity is favorable for supercells.

6. The surface analysis for 22Z

7. Visible Image at 2145Z  The anvil starts to form over western Kansas.  The anvil starts to form over western Kansas.

8. Visible Image at 2315Z  The anvil expands as the system develops.

9. Radar Reflectivity at 2235Z  Two thunderstorms are visible. The storm on the east is stronger than the storm in the center.

10. Radar Reflectivity at 2305Z  The radar shows two distinct and intense thunderstorms.