Investigation of the 8 May 1998 event using satellite derived parameters

The dryline has long been studied as a feature along which convection and severe weather occur. It is a narrow region with a strong moisture gradient that results from the advection of two different air masses, namely continental tropical (cT) air with origins in the southwest United States and northern Mexico and maritime tropical (mT) air from the Gulf of Mexico. The surface intercept of these air masses is generally accepted as the dryline location.\n\nOn 8 May 1998 a dryline formed in conjunction with low pressure that had redeveloped on the lee side of the Rocky Mountains. The system produced numerous storms as it progressed eastward across eastern New Mexico, western and central Texas, and Oklahoma. Severe weather, including hail, strong thunderstorm winds, and several weak tornadoes, were reported with these storms. Some of these events caused major crop and property damage.\n\nData collected by the geostationary satellite, GOES-8, were used to track and analyze the events of 8-9 May 1998 along with surface and upper-air observations and radar data. The GOES-8 imager was placed in Super-Rapid Scanning Operation (SRSO) for this case. Imagery was recorded at 1-minute intervals during certain periods in this scanning mode. Hourly Derived Product Images (DPI's) from the GOES-8 sounder were also utilized. Of the three available DPI's, lifted index and total precipitable water provided the most favorable results for locating and tracking the dryline and for understanding areas of convective inifiafion and storm growth or dissipation.