Stormscope
®
WX-500 User’s Guide
4-4
Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation
Figure 4-3. Range Changed to 100 nmi
R a t e
2 8
1 0 0 n m
S T R I K E
:
R a t e
2 5
1 0 0 n m
C E L L
:
The screen can also tell us about the relative amount of electrical
discharge activity in thunderstorm cells. Clusters 2 and 3
have more discharge points than cluster 1 indicating greater
electrical discharge activity. All three clusters however must be
avoided because you can’t necessarily determine the severity of
thunderstorms based strictly on the number of discharge points.
For example, in the western United States, a severe thunderstorm
may only have a few electrical discharges.
When the range is changed to 100 nmi (figure 4-3), only cluster 2
remains visible. Clusters 1 and 3 are beyond the 100 nmi range
and therefore no longer appear on the screen. (Clusters 1 and
3 would again be visible if the range were returned to 200 nmi.)
Cluster 2 is now more defined and the discharge points are larger.
The interpretation of cluster 2 remains the same: a moderately
active thunderstorm at azimuth 4:00, range 75 nmi. Notice on the
right-hand screen (strike display mode) that there is less radial
spread than on the 200 nmi range. In general, radial spread is
reduced on the shorter ranges.
Typical Patterns
