LAP Gradients Focus for Convection in MAF CWA

LAP PW and Stability all did a good job depicting the moist unstable air in the sou6thern and eastern portion of MAF CWA. The area enclosed in the white line represents initial convective initiation. As has been the case the past two days the north-south oriented line is along a zone of tight gradient of PW (and CAPE and other stability parameters).

In this case the PW field also shows more discreet areas of higher PW where convection is initiating in an east-west band in an area of clearing skies ahead of the surface cold front.

Overall, I think LAP has done a very good job in providing an initial view of environmental conditions (and gradients) during initial severe weather analysis and spin-up. It helps focus in on areas most likely to see initial convective development, which can be verified against numerical guidance.

-snowstrm