As mentioned yesterday, Deployment #1 is in the books. The DOW deployed to one of our southern sites, in an optimum triple-Doppler location just as snowfall began. Operations continued through the night and into this morning before closing down as the first round of snow wound down. Several small convective cells, embedded within the main snow band were observed and thoroughly sampled.
This event was close to being a perfect deployment. Hardware issues with NorthPol prevented optimum data collection. An intermittent short in the servo amp limited NorthPol operations to normal volume scans but without RHIs. Luckily a replacement part is scheduled to arrive on Monday. The snow event was also rather weak, and although many bands were observed, the NWS radar operated in clear-air mode. Despite allowing the WSR-88D radar to see most of the snow shorter wavelength radars can view, clear-air mode has fewer vertical tilts. The aircraft also deployed and was able to collect observations near and over the Buxton field site.
Operations are not expected for the remainder of the day. A relatively potent upper low is expected to move out of the Rockies toward the Northern Plains on Monday. The current forecast track brings the heaviest snowfall across southeast North Dakota through northern Minnesota. The last few weather forecast model runs have suggested an increasing chance of snow over the study domain. Operations are possible again on Monday, mainly afternoon, as this system moves through.
Attention then turns toward the middle of the week (around the Thanksgiving holiday). Another storm system is expected to move into the area Wednesday bringing the threat of snow and wind into the study domain once again.
All in all, a fairly active week is expected for the second week of the study.
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