Slow day, but good ending for UWCTC

The first day of the HWT was slow weather-wise for the UWCTC product.  Most of the convection in the area of focus was not producing any captured CTC signal due to the primarily thicker layers of cirrus over the top of the ongoing convection.  However, toward the end of the shift when focus was shifted elsewhere, some promising CTC signal showed itself.  At 2302 UTC, two moderate cooling rates were detected over north central North Carolina (See Figure 1).

Figure 1.  UWCTC overlaid on visible satellite imagery at 2303 UTC, with a max UWCTC value of ~-8K/15 min.

Cooling rate detection was ongoing for these two areas through 2325 UTC (See Figure 2). 

Figure 2. UWCTC overlaid on visible satellite imagery at 2325 UTC, with a max UWCTC value of ~-13K/15 min.

 As seen on the Hi-Res VIL product on radar (Figure 3), the left detection of CTC went on to produce VILs in excess of 40-45 kg/m-2.

Figure 3 - High Resolution VIL valid at 0035 UTC.

The first hail report for this particular storm was received at 0040 UTC, lending a one hour and thirty-eight minute lead time ahead of the observed hail.  See Figure 4 below for the LSR text.

Figure 4.  LSR of estimated 1" hail received at 0040 UTC.