GOES Winds Estimating 700-300mb Shear - Need More 700mb Samples.

The lower left image shows the 1-minute SRSOR imagery with the GOES winds overlaid. The cursor readout over the far north central portion of the Pendleton, OR CWA shows one sample of winds at 718 mb of 21 knots. It also shows a sample of 362 mb winds of 44 knots. This gives an approximate 700-350 mb shear of 23 knots, which is rather weak. However, sites to the southeast of that area are showing 250 mb winds in the 70-75 knot range. This would give larger shear values from 700-250mb (100 mb deeper than the sample location), assuming the 700 mb winds are similar to the sample point. The lack of sampling of 700 mb winds suggest that this assumption cannot be made. Even so, GOES wind data at 700 mb would be something to watch for as the afternoon progresses. JJW