Convective Severe

(What a) SKEW-T

100

Where should you look when forecasting weather using a Skew-T?

Upstream

200

There is increased moisture in the lower atmosphere. What feature on the Skew-T will be lowered?

Level of Free Convection

300

How does dry air in the 700-600mb range impact a convective cloud?

Results in evaporational cooling and will strengthen the downdraft

400

You are stationed in the desert SW. On station, you have noticed virga. At a nearby station, they are reporting drizzle. There is a high wind advisory over the area and the temperature/dew-point spread is large. 

What is the buoyancy of the air? Use dynamic reasoning. 

Desert SW = Arid.
Temp/DP spread indicates dry air.
The drizzle, still causes precipitation drag (even if its light). Virga indicates evaporation which leads to cooling. 

All of these factors indicate that the air is negatively buoyant.

500

What is positive CAPE?

What is negative CAPE?

Convective Available Potential Energy

+: parcel is warmer than the environment, leading to instability

-: parcel is colder than the environment, leading to stability

Radar

100

What does a melting level look like?

A circle/ring. Found looking at the outside edge. 

slide 16

200

What does a mid level overhang look like on base reflectivity?

A hook on the lower level, like a donut as you go up.

slide 24

300

You have a 4-panel VIL product. The max dBz is going down in each successive quadrant. What is happening to the storm?

Dissipating.

If it were increasing over time, it would be intensifying. 

400

What feature is shown in this image?

Slide 32?

The tight gradient over a short distance indicates turbulence

500

What is shown in this image?

slide 45

Storm top divergence.

IF THIS WAS A 4 PANEL IMAGE, IT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST ELEVATION/LAST QUADRANT

I don't know

100

You do not have a change in temperature advection, but you have strong moisture advection.

Does this impact evaporational cooling?

No, it results in latent heat release

200

After a thunderstorm begins to dissipate, why should pilots still be wary of landing in the area?

Storm clouds hold an electrical charge for a long time

300

Precipitation maximum areas changed based on season. Tell me the location for each season:

Summer:

Winter:

Summer: Southeast

Winter: Northwest coastal mountains

400

Hodograph shapes and types

Short and Disorganized: Single Cell

Straight line: Multicell Storm

Curved: Supercell

500

There are thunderstorms at your airfield, what do you suggest to the pilot

If you get this wrong I'll judge you

Alternate landing site

Types

100

Type A:

Type B:

Type C:

Type D:

Type E:

A: Dryline

B: Frontal

C: Overrunning

D: Cold Core

E: Major Cyclone

200

What type of air mass will SSI and LI not work?

IV: Inverted V

300

How does the inversion break on a Type I air mass

Low-level heating, mechanical lifting, and evaporational cooling of cloud tops will break the inversion, resulting in the release of the unstable air

400

CAA enters a warm frontal Type E air mass. What can this do to the TS in the area

Cause thunderstorms to become severe

500

When do TS become severe in association with a type c system? Is hail common?

When mid-level dry air intrudes into the threat area. Hail IS common.