METR 361 Spring, 2014
“Instant” Case Studies – Colorado Storms
The objective for today is to produce a
quick case study. We will focus on
Colorado Hooker storms, like the one from 2006 that we are currently studying
in lecture. From one of the Linux
computers, open the METR 360 folder and the Instant Cases folder. View the maps
in the folder named with the dates of your case. You need to be ready to show the class what
happened with your case before the end of lab today.
Specifics of the assignment:
1. The cases you may choose from happened
on the following dates:
January 10-13, 2013 Dubbs
February 9-12, 2013 Swift
February 24-28, 2013 Depasquale
December 3-5, 2013 Baum
December 13-15, 2013 Topal
You must identify the key weather event in
your cases. That key event to be
discussed will be a Colorado storm but there will be a lot of storms of all
types in your map set. There may also be important other effects, like severe
thunderstorms or extreme cold. Figure out which are the most important weather
effects in your cases and concentrate on them.
IMPORTANT: I put many more maps than you need in the folders. Don’t assume your key weather event starts
right away with the first map.
2. Go to the Web to check on
precipitation, snowfall and other feature of your case. You could use NOAA’s Advanced Hydrologic
Prediction Service (http://water.weather.gov/precip/) for radar estimates of
the precipitation. Use their archive to
find 24-hour precipitation estimates for your dates. You may also use CoCoRaHs
for snowfall and precipitation observations.
Save the images from http://www.cocorahs.org/Maps/ViewMap.aspx?state=usa. Also, a map of Weather Service Offices
can be found at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/.
The NWS office websites have Local Climate reports that you can check. Click the left bar under Climate, Local. If you find good information elsewhere and it
is reliable, you may use it in addition to your maps.
3. Starting at 1:45, show the class what
happened during your case. You have a
maximum of 15 minutes, including questions.
Base your presentation on the PowerPoint of the December 2006 Colorado Blizzard
case but do not use PowerPoint. Instead,
just show maps. You will need to save just the ones you want to show. Do not show them all! This is not a finished product. It’s a quick-and-dirty informal map showing.
There will be a folder named presentation in your case folder. Use that to save the images you want to show
and we will transfer them to the podium computer with a USB drive.
4.
Find some meteorological anomaly in your case, something that was different
from the 2006 blizzard. Every storm has
something nonstandard that makes it a challenge to forecast. You have the advantage of hindsight. Explain
how your anomaly was important to the case.
5. During the other students’
presentations, I want you to take notes and give each of them a grade. Your rubric is to look for the following:
a. Did the presenter correctly identify the most important storm in
his/her map folder?
b. Did the presenter show you enough information so you have a good idea
of the weather situation during his/her case?
c. Did the presenter show and explain at
least one meteorological anomaly that made his/her case unique?
This is NOT a graded lab. We’re just trying out the idea but I want to
assign grades as part of the exercise so I get an idea of how to do it for real
grades next year. That’s why I want your
opinions of your classmates’ presentations.
METR 361 Grade Sheet Instant
Case Study lab
Anthony Baum Grade (0-100%):
Notes (optional):
Alyssa Dubbs Grade
(0-100%):
Notes (optional):
Richard Depasquale Grade
(0-100%):
Notes (optional):
Jessica Topal Grade
(0-100%):
Notes (optional):
Samantha Swift Grade (0-100%):
Notes (optional):