Tuscaloosa Tornado 1/27/1997 Radar Imagery

Radar Images 2253Z

The reflectivity gradient sharpened some more by the 2253Z volume scan. The storm appeared to be strengthening at this time as pixels of 55+ dBZ were now evident at 1.5, 2.4, and 3.4 degree elevations. The concavity on the southwest flank was still very evident.

Although a velocity couplet was not readily apparent at the lowest elevation at 2253Z, the 30-39 kts of storm-relative outbound velocities were right on the southwest flank. V_r increased to 35 kts at 1.5 degrees and remained 22 to 26 kts at higher elevations.