GOES Derived Winds Utility

GOES derived winds proved to be useful in determining when convective activity was getting deep enough to tap into some better shear.

Based on the KDRT 18Z sounding, winds were southerly up to around 600 mb. Above 600 mb winds become more westerly and stronger.

The GOES derived winds have consistently showed the southerly low level winds over the past couple of hours (blue wind barbs).  Finally, between 20:00-20:30Z, convective activity become deep enough for GOES to pick up a wind measurement higher up in the atmosphere. The red wind barb showed 50 KT winds out of the west up around 350 to 300 mb. Within the hour after the convection achieved this better deep layer sheer, we saw thunderstorms develop and several became severe with 1" hail reports.

- JP