The
visible satellite loop shows deep
convection occurring over the SMO to the northeast of S-POL. The
mean terrain elevation in this region is 1.5 - 2.0 km. These
convective cells formed primarily along ridgelines of the SMO and were
typically short-lived but intense cells. Overshooting tops are
evident in the satellite loop suggesting that some of the systems were
reaching the tropopause which was about 15 km.
Winds aloft (700-300 hPa) were
generally easterly and weak (about 10 knots).
The
Composite Cell Plot
shows the location of the cells tracked during this event.
