Goshen County, WY Tornado (5 June 2009)


On 5 June 2009, an amazing dataset was obtained by the VORTEX2 team!

After a slow start to the 2009 season, the VORTEX2 team made history on 5 June 2009.

At least 5 mobile radars, including 3 DOWs, several mobile mesonets, and photogrammetry teams from several universities and laboratories observed the entire lifecycle of a strong tornado from well before genesis through dissipation. Multiple radar data sets were combined using dual-Doppler techniques to create maps of vector winds in order to study the causes of tornado genesis, intensification, and dissipation. The rapid evolution of the tornado was studied using data from Rapid-Scan radars. Data from the DOWs were combined with in situ video and wind data from the Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) to resolve three dimensional tornado wind structure and directly compare wind speeds to damage. Mobile mesonets surrounded critical parts of the storm to study thermodynamic properties influencing tornado formation and evolution.

The data from this scientifically groundbreaking tornado continue to be studied to learn more about how tornadoes form, intensify, die, cause damage, and their structure.


Pictures & Loops

Reflectivity, Doppler velocity of tornado vortex within 12 km from DOW5; Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Full Res
Reflectivity, Doppler velocity of tornado vortex within 5 km from DOW5; Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Full Res
Reflectivity of tornado vortex (eye-following) from DOW5; Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Full Res
Doppler velocity, reflectivity of tornado from DOW7; Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Full Res
Radar returned power of tornado from DOW7; Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Full Res
Dual-Doppler analysis showing tornadogenesis and intensification from DOW6 and DOW7. RFD forms in blue, flanking line forms in red; Convergence (colors), vorticity (contours), velocity (vectors); Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Full Res
Dual-Doppler analysis from DOW6 and DOW7; reflectivity (colors), vorticity (contours), velocity (vectors); Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Full Res
Goshen County, WY tornado with DOW7, 5 June 2009 | Photo By: Herb Stein | Full Res
Tim Marshall & Dr. Lindsay Bennett Deploying a Tornado POD during the Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Photo By: Ryan McGinnis | Full Res
Tim Marshall & Dr. Lindsay Bennett Deploy a Tornado POD in front of the Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Photo By: Ryan McGinnis | Full Res
Rapid-Scan DOW (DOW5) Scans the Goshen County, WY tornado in the background, 5 June 2009 | Photo By: Paul Robinson | Full Res
A Mobile Mesonet and POD deployment in front of the Goshen County, WY tornado, 5 June 2009 | Photo By: Paul Robinson | Full Res

Videos





Research Articles


Description of the VORTEX2 Project

Wurman, J., D. Dowell, Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, E. Rasmussen, D. Burgess, L. Wicker, and H.B. Bluestein, 2012: The Second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment: VORTEX2. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93, 1147-1170, doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00010.1.



Studies Led by FARM Facility Group


Causes of Tornadogenesis

Kosiba, K., J. Wurman, Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, P. Robinson, J. Marquis, 2013: Genesis of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Tornado on 5 June 2009 during VORTEX2. Monthly Weather Review, 141, 1157-1181, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-12-00056.1.


Radar and TIV Data 3D Tornado Structure

Wurman, J., K. Kosiba, and P. Robinson, 2013: In Situ, Doppler Radar, and Video Observations of the Interior Structure of a Tornado and the Wind-Damage Relationship. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 94, 835-846, doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00114.1.



Other Studies using FARM Facility Data


Photogrammetry and Single-Doppler Radar

Wakimoto, R.M., N.T. Atkins, J. Wurman, 2011: The LaGrange Tornado during VORTEX2. Part I: Photogrammetric Analysis of the Tornado Combined with Single-Doppler Radar Data. Monthly Weather Review, 139, 2233-2258, doi: 10.1175/2010MWR3568.1.


Well Before Genesis Part 1

Markowski, P., Y. Richardson, J. Marquis, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, P. Robinson, D. Dowell, E. Rasmussen, R. Davies-Jones, 2012: The Pretornadic Phase of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Supercell of 5 June 2009 Intercepted by VORTEX2. Part I: Evolution of Kinematic and Surface Thermodynamic Fields. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 2887-2915, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-11-00336.1.


Well Before Genesis Part 2

Markowski P., Y. Richardson, J. Marquis, R. Davies-Jones, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, P. Robinson, E. Rasmussen, D. Dowell, 2012: The Pretornadic Phase of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Supercell of 5 June 2009 Intercepted by VORTEX2. Part II: Intensification of Low-Level Rotation. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 2916-2938, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-11-00337.1.


Photogrammetry and Dual-Doppler Radar

Atkins, N. T., A. McGee, R. Ducharme, R. M. Wakimoto, J. Wurman, 2012: The LaGrange Tornado during VORTEX2. Part II: Photogrammetric Analysis of the Tornado Combined with Dual-Doppler Radar Data. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 2939-2958, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-11-00285.1.


Photogrammetry and Radar

Wakimoto, R.M., P. Stauffer, W.-C. Lee, N.T. Atkins, J. Wurman, 2012: Finescale Structure of the LaGrange, Wyoming, Tornado during VORTEX2: GBVTD and Photogrammetric Analyses. Monthly Weather Review, 140, 3397-3418, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-12-00036.1.


Research Radar vs. NEXRAD

Toth, M., R.J. Trapp, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, 2013: Comparison of Mobile-Radar Measurements of Tornado Intensity with Corresponding WSR-88D Measurements. Weather and Forecasting, 28, 418-426, doi: 10.1175/WAF-D-12-00019.1.


Assimilating Observations into Models - Sensitivity

Marquis, J., Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, D. Dowell, J. Wurman, K. Kosiba, P. Robinson, and G. Romine, 2014: An Investigation of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Tornadic Supercell of 5 June 2009 using EnKF Assimilation of Mobile Radar and Mobile Mesonet Observations Collected during VORTEX2. Part I: Experiment Design and Verification of the EnKF Analyses. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 530-554, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-13-00007.1.


Photogrammetry, Dual-Doppler Radar, and In-Situ Observations

Atkins, N. T., E. M. Glidden, and T. M. Nicholson, 2014: Observations of Wall Cloud Formation in Supercell Thunderstorms during VORTEX2. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 4823-4838, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-14-00125.1.


Review of Supercell and Tornado Dynamics

Davies-Jones, R., 2015: A Review of Supercell and Tornado Dynamics. Atmospheric Research, 158–159, 274–291, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.04.007.


Alternative Insights

Markowski, P., Y. Richardson, M. Kumjian, A. Anderson-Frey, G. Jimenez, B. Katona, A. Klees, R. Schrom, and D. Tobin, 2015: Comments on “Observations of Wall Cloud Formation in Supercell Thunderstorms during VORTEX2”. Monthly Weather Review, 143, 4278-4281, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-15-0126.1.


Computer Model and Radar Analysis of Tornado Evolution

Marquis, J., Y. Richardson, P. Markowski, J. Wurman, and K. Kosiba, 2016: An Investigation of the Goshen County, Wyoming, Tornadic Supercell of 5 June 2009 Using EnKF Assimilation of Mobile Mesonet and Radar Observations. Part II: Mesocyclone-scale Processes Affecting Tornado Formation, Maintenance, and Decay. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 3441-3463, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-15-0411.1.


Low Reflectivity Ribbon Analysis

Griffin, C., C. Weiss, A. Reinhart, J. Snyder, H. Bluestein, J. Wurman, and K. Kosiba, 2018: In Situ and Radar Observations of the Low Reflectivity Ribbon in Supercells during VORTEX2. Monthly Weather Review, 146, 307-327, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-17-0201.1.


Objective Methods of Determining Evolution Mechanisms

Frank, L., V. Galinsky, L. Orf, and J. Wurman, 2018: Dynamic Multi-scale Modes of Severe Storm Structure Detected in Mobile Doppler Radar Data by Entropy Field Decomposition. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 75, 709-730, doi:10.1175/JAS-D-17-0117.1.



Other Studies Related to the Goshen Tornado


Polarimetric Radar Analysis

Snyder, J. C., H. B. Bluestein, V. Venkatesh, and S. J. Frasier, 2013: Observations of Polarimetric Signatures in Supercells by an X-band Mobile Doppler Radar. Monthly Weather Review, 141, 3-29, doi:10.1175/MWR-D-12-00068.1.


Vertical Tornado Vortex Development

French, M. M., H. B. Bluestein, I. PopStefanija, C. A. Baldi, and R. T. Bluth, 2013: Reexamining the Vertical Development of Tornadic Vortex Signatures in Supercells. Monthly Weather Review, 141, 4576-4601, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-12-00315.1.


Phased Array Radar

French, M. M., H.B. Bluestein, I. PopStefanija, C. A. Baldi, and R. T. Bluth, 2014: Mobile, Phased-Array, Doppler Radar Observations of Tornadoes at X Band. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 1010-1036, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-13-00101.1.


Environmental Soundings

Coffer, B. E., and M. D. Parker, 2015: Impacts of Increasing Lower Tropospheric Vertical Wind Shear on Supercells during the Early Evening Transition. Monthly Weather Review, 143, 1945-1969, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-14-00328.1.


Impact on Forecasts

Supinie, T. A., Y. Jung, M. Xue, D. J. Stensrud, M. M. French, and H. B. Bluestein, 2016: Impact of VORTEX2 Observations on Analyses and Forecasts of the 5 June 2009 Goshen County, Wyoming, Supercell. Monthly Weather Review, 144, 429-449, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-15-0171.1.