GLM Event Density With Growing/Strengthening Updrafts (UPDATED AT 20:30 UTC)

[19:30 UTC] Convection is well underway here in the Sterling VA WFO. Have taken a look at the day-cloud convection RGB with strengthening storms in my southwest. With the mesosector positioned squarely over top of us, we are getting 1-minute imagery, which is spectacular in terms of monitoring the growth of a cumulus/mature cumulonimbus.

Also noted a fairly rapid uptick in GLM 2-minute Event Density with the growing/strengthening storms over this same time period, which would help focus attention on the developing convection in addition to the mature convection already in my northeast CWA. Also continue to monitor ProbSevere and will be sure to include any interesting findings as they become available.

Fig. 1: GLM event density every 2 minutes updated every 1 minute

Fig. 2: Day Cloud Convection 1 minute mesosector

 [Update at 20:30 UTC]

In watching the evolution of convection in the southwest part of my area, the increase in flash rate and event density was notable until about 19:35 UTC when the 2-minute event density and flash rate per minute began to decrease. The storms began to take on a bit of a bow shape, but there was no real increase in ProbWind leading up to approximately 19:35 UTC, when two damaging wind reports were received very close to each other and approximately 2 minutes apart. Interesting that ProbSevere, in this case, did not provide value as was expected.


Rosie Red