Flooding in Utah – 26 July 2021

By Sheldon Kusselson and Dan Bikos

The North American monsoon has been in full swing in the course of the summer time of 2021, bringing a lot wanted moisture to the Southwest.

At occasions although the considerable moisture has resulted in heavy rain and flash flood occasions.

See the 4 panel Advected Layer Precipitable Water (ALPW) animation

Higher left: ALPW within the Floor to 850 mb layer

Higher proper: ALPW within the 850 to 700 mb layer

Decrease-left: ALPW within the 700-500 mb layer

Decrease-right: ALPW within the 500-300 mb layer

When viewing this product within the west, remember the fact that information is lacking over larger elevations. This impact is definitely noticed within the Floor to 850 mb layer, and even reveals up in localized areas of the 850 to 700 mb layer.  The 700-500 mb layer may be very helpful for the monsoon season with the sometimes excessive moisture values noticed in mid-levels over areas of upper elevation.  The relative most in moisture throughout southern Utah might be simply noticed on this layer.  The five hundred-300 mb layer can depicts areas of upper moisture at that degree highlighting areas the place the moisture is especially deep which might improve precipitation effectivity.  Evaluate the animation with the slide above that denotes with arrows the course moisture plumes are shifting within the completely different layers.  Supply areas of moisture might be readily recognized together with when these moisture layers change into vertically aligned resulting in a deep moist profile sometimes related to extreme precipitation occasions.

See the 4 panel 700-500 mb ALPW, GOES-16 6.2 um water vapor band and a pair of TPW merchandise

Higher left: ALPW within the 850 to 700 mb layer

Higher proper: GOES-16 6.2 um (upper-level) water vapor band

Decrease-left: Blended TPW product (operational), (lacking earlier than 1400 UTC)

Decrease-right: Merged (GOES + POES) TPW product (experimental)

Evaluate the animation of the water vapor imagery with the annotated water vapor picture on the slide above that denotes brief waves.

Evaluate the TPW merchandise with the ALPW animation above, how do they complement and complement one another?

See the 4 panel 700-500 mb ALPW, MRMS composite reflectivity and GOES-16 IR (10.3 um) and upper-level water vapor (6.2 um) imagery

Higher left: ALPW within the 850 to 700 mb layer

Higher proper: MRMS composite reflectivity

Decrease-left: GOES-16 IR (10.3 um)

Decrease-right: GOES-16 upper-level water vapor (6.2 um)

Once more, the water vapor imagery depicts the brief wave.

Be aware how the ALPW appears to extend at sure occasions.  If the rise is happening over a big space, it’s possible as a consequence of a brand new polar go changing into obtainable or a go with a distinct sensor.

Detailed info on the flooding in southern Utah