Name: __________________________
Date: _____________________
Section______
TA: Lisha Roubert
Lab #12: Severe Weater: Hail, Tornados and Wind Events
Objective: The purpose of this lab is to introduce you to interpretation of Skew-Ts in order to conclude
the kind of weather that we can expect.
1) Determining severe weather potential with the use of Skew-Ts-Use the Skew-T below to
answer the following questions. Use the following website to learn how to interpret the numbers
shown on the Skew-T http://weather.unisys.com/upper_air/skew/details.html
a) Write down the date and time that this Skew-T corresponds to.
b) Determine the following values for the Skew-T.
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Total Totals:
Speed Shear:
K Index:
CAPE:
SR Helicity:
Lifted Index/SWI:
BRN:
EHI:
c) For each of the values you found in question b), use the Severe Weather Indices tables
http://www.theweatherprediction.com/severe/indices/ to determine what kind of weather is
expected for the region.
 Total Totals:
 Speed Shear:
 K Index:
 CAPE:
 SR Helicity:
 Lifted Index/SWI:
 BRN:
 EHI:
d) Determine the freezing height on this Skew-T. Mark the freezing height on the Skew-T as
well. (Note: To find the freezing level, follow the 0 degree Celsius isotherm until it intersects
the parcel line.)
e) According to the Freezing level value of this Skew-T, is there hail? ( We can expect Large
hail when freezing level >675 mb) Why would the freezing level be useful to identify if there
is hail or not?
f) At what height is the Level of Free Convection in this Skew-T? A LFC closer to the surface
is more supportive of tornadoes in a severe thunderstorm environment. Do you think the LFC
in this Skew-T is close enough to the surface to support a tornado?
2) Skew-T comparisons
a) Compare the Skew-T you used in problem one to this second one. What general differences
can you see between them?
b) What kind of weather is associated with this Skew-T?