EUMeTrain: Case Study on severe convection over Central and Eastern Europe

Synoptic Situation: Radar

Large hail is regularly observed in association with intense thunderstorms (as in this case study) and is often the cause of severe damage on e.g. crops, roofs and cars. Hail is a local phenomenon, in both time and space, so that it can not be easily detected using satellite imagery or with surface observations (since the density is to coarse). Due to its widespatial coverage and relatively fine spatial and temporal resolution, weather radar appears as a valuable tool for the real-time detection of hail (Holleman, 2002).
For both convective regions the radar is presented and described for the 29th and 30th May 2005.

Radar: Greece

The spatial coverage of the radar network in Greece comprises mostly the area pictured in the box below. For the 29th of May the radar is studied using measuments of the site in Thessalonici situated at 40.5°N and 23.0°E.For a direct comparison with Meteosat 8 satellite data, these images are also presented.
The radarsite in Greece, presented in this case study, comprises the highlighted area

Radar Thessalonica: 29th May 2005 - Selected timeperiod

EuMeTrain would like to thank George Potiriadis and George Alexakis for their help and providing us these images.


Radar: Austria

The radar network of Austria comprises of four radar sites. Their data is combined and projected into one single image which allows a direct view of the situation in Austria.
The intensity is not projected in the usual dBZ scale but in classes. These classes can be found 'here'. Position where hail is observed are marked by a coloured 'star'. For a direct comparison with Meteosat 8 satellite data, these images are also presented.

Radar Austria: 30th May 2005 - Selected timeperiod


Radar: Czech Republic

The radar network in the Czech Republic makes use of two MAX CAPPI in which the convective development was nicely observed in the morning and the afternoon of the 30th May 2005.

Radar Czech Republic: 30th May 2005 - Selected timeperiod

EuMeTrain would like to thank Martin Setvak and Petr Novak (CMHI) for their help and providing us these images.


References

Holleman, I., 2002:Wind Profiling by Doppler Weather Radar
Workshop on Integrated Ground-based Remote Sensing Stations for Atmospheric Profiling, 2002, L'Aquila, COST-720