Lightning/Supercell Detector Training

How to use the lightning detector in supercell mode

by KD1LD

 

Did you know that electrical patterns from thunderstorms are not all the same. Normal lightning has a certain pattern, and a different type of pattern for a supercell storm. As a matter of fact, there are several different patterns. A study was done by volunteers across the USA. People that have lightning detectors would send in there data after each storm. After several years of study, a model was developed. It was called the weather spectrum analyzer. It worked very well. It even had a tornado detection warning. But there was one problem though, the software indicated a damaging cell, but didn't show were the cell was located. With many cells on the radar, which cell was the one that would cause the most damage. This was one big problem.

I used this principle of patterns and modified my lightning detector. It took many hours to get things going in the right direction. Day after day, storm after storm, I worked on this project.

By using computer data, much data from the field, the universal language of mathematics and a lot of luck, I was able to come up with the first talking lightning detector and now the first talking supercell detector.

I tested the modified lightning detector for several years now, and the lightning/supercell detector was never wrong so far. For the past two years I have played with the parameters, but have just placed them back the way they were.

The Lightning/supercell detector speaks using wave files. Several phrases can be linked together by using the alert timers in the program. The timers can be programmed to fit your needs. Sometimes the phrases sound like sentences, but not always.

Example: Typical wave output during sever weather.

Attention, a Thunderstorm is Developing - Very Strong Cell - Moderate Activity - Elevated Supercell - Range, 25 Miles - Condition Yellow - Red Alert.

Several cells: Very Strong Cell - Range 10 Miles .. Elevated Convection - Range 50 Miles

Other phrases

Attention, a Thunderstorm is Developing ...
Range 10 Miles
Range 25 Miles
Range 50 Miles
Range100 Miles
500+ Strokes
1000+ Strokes
Moderate Activity
Condition Red
Condition Yellow
Red Alert
Yellow Alert
Strong Cell

Very Strong Cell ......................................
Meso
Meso Cyclone
Rotation
Hail
Large Hail
Low Topped Convection
Elevated Convection
Supercell
Low Topped Supercell
Elevated Supercell
Tornadic Storm
Tornadic Supercell

Supercell Graphics

 

Orange (Intra-Cloud) (+IC)

Red only (+CG)

Pink (Intra-Cloud) (-IC)

Orange and Yellow

......Lightning Cell......

..........Pink and Red ..........

a lot of Orange with Yellow

Yellow only (-CG)

a lot of Pink with Red

Lightning/Supercell Detector Cheat-Sheet

How to use the lightning detector in supercell mode

By KD1LD

 

IC Intra-Cloud Pink and or Orange (Cloud to Cloud)..
VWC Very weak Convection Pink only (cloud to cloud) (-IC)
VWC Very weak Convection Orange only (cloud to cloud) (+IC)
WC Weak Convection Red only (new or dyeing cell) (+CG)
S Spike (atmospheric discharge) Yellow only (Very weak Stroke)(-CG)
N Normal Convection Yellow and Orange
LTC Low Topped Convection Yellow and Orange
ELTC Elevated Low Topped Convection Yellow and Orange
EC Elevated Convection Red and Pink
SC Supercell Yellow and Orange
LTSC Low Topped Supercell Yellow and Orange
ESC Elevated Supercell Red with a lot of Pink

 


Normal and Low Topped Convection

-CG N LTC ELTC SC ...... Yellow (cloud to ground)
+IC N LTC ELTC SC Orange (cloud to cloud)

 


Elevated Convection

+IG EC ESC ................ Red (cloud to ground)
-IC EC ESC Pink (cloud to cloud)

 

 

 

Please note

I was so happy about getting this project to work. I tried to contact the other people that I worked with for the past ten years, but they have all passed away.

KD1LD

Lightning Detector