VISIT: Meteorological Interpretation Blog

During the overnight hours of 21 October 2019, we analyze multiple applications of GOES imagery at night. First, we look over the northeast where fog developed.  Here is the GOES-16 nighttime microphysics product: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/21Oct19/fog&loop_speed_ms=60 We observe large areas of fog (dull aqua) or low clouds (aqua) in Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  Continue Reading

Satellite fog monitoring during the nighttime can be a challenge since geostationary datasets are limited to infrared imagery. However, with the new GOES-16/17 and JPSS datasets users can employ polar-orbiting and geostationary imagery to identify and monitor areas of fog and low stratus (a.k.a liquid water clouds). As meteorologists, we know that fog can significantly Continue Reading

During the overnight hours of 25 February 2019, low clouds and fog developed over portions of northwest Kansas, eastern Colorado and southwest Nebraska.  The low cloud and fog developed over a field of snow on the ground from a recent blizzard.  Low cloud and fog on top of snow on the ground can be difficult Continue Reading

During the overnight and morning hours of May 22, 2018 there was widespread fog over the upper midwest region centered around Wisconsin.  We’ll start by looking at the familiar fog product (10.3 – 3.9 micron) overlaid with ceiling (top left: hundreds of feet AGL) and visibility (bottom in miles): http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/22may18/fog&loop_speed_ms=180 Recall in the fog product, Continue Reading

The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing.  Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized. The following loop is the GOES-16 visible (0.64 micron) band centered along the California / Oregon border on the Continue Reading

The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing.  Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized. On the morning of 18 July 2017, low-level clouds moved eastward through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  This Continue Reading

The GOES-16 data posted on this page are preliminary, non-operational data and are undergoing testing.  Users bear all responsibility for inspecting the data prior to use and for the manner in which the data are utilized. On the morning of 24 March 2017, there were some interesting fog / low stratus events in the West. Continue Reading

By Jorel Torres, Dan Bikos and Lewis Grasso A majority of National Weather Service (NWS) training is focused on satellite products for the CONtinental United States (CONUS). However, how can satellite products help NWS forecasters with satellite interpretation in Off CONUS locations such as Alaska? One goal is to use synthetic satellite imagery from the Continue Reading

Dan Bikos This blog entry will examine the synthetic low cloud / fog product produced by the 4-km NSSL WRF-ARW model.  For detailed information on this product, see: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/training_sessions/synthetic_imagery_in_forecasting_low_clouds_and_fog/ Let’s examine this product on the Washington and Oregon coastline from October 10, 2012: http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/10oct12_west_syn_fog&image_width=1020&image_height=900 Recall that low cloud or fog is depicted as blue in Continue Reading

J. Braun, Louis Grasso and Don Hillger GOES-R ABI will have the ability to produce imagery at 0.47 µm (blue) and at 0.67 µm (red). Although GOES-R will be unable to produce any images at 0.555 µm (green), color imagery can still be generated with certain techniques. These techniques can be tested through the use Continue Reading