WMOD00459

• Title: Snow Accumulation Algorithm for the WSR-88D Radar, Version 1
• Date: 6/1/1996
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

Table 2. - Summary of snow storm periods sampled by the volunteer network near Albany, New York,
during the 1995-96 winter. Activation refers to whether part or all of network was requested to make
Sand SD observations (see text).

Event Start date-hour (UTC)* Stop date-hour (UTC) Activation
No.
1 01 Dec-03 01 Dec-2l Partial
2 09 Dec-06 10 Dec-09 Full
3 14 Dec-09 15 Dec-06 Partial
4 19 Dec-18 21 Dec-06 Full
5 02 Jan-12 04 Jan-12 Full
6 07 Jan-12 09 Jan-OO Partial
7 12 Jan-15 13 Jan-15 Full
8 16 Feb-13 17 Feb-13 Full
9 02 Mar-09 02 Mar-21 Partial
10 05 Mar-06 06 Mar-06 Full
11 06 Mar-2l 09 Mar-OO Full
12 29 Mar-03 29 Mar-18 Partial
13 09 Apr-20 11 Apr-OO Partial
* UTC = universal time coordinated

Not all volunteers were available during each storm, and the times during which each
volunteer was able to take measurements varied from storm to storm to account for sleep
time. During storms with full network activation, about 40 to 50 volunteers made hourly
observations. Of course, specific measurement locations varied from storm to storm
depending upon the availability of particular observers.

Volunteer observations were collected at the Albany WFO, entered into a computer data base
by university students and, at this writing, are being double-checked for accuracy . by
comparison with nearby observations. In addition, two Belfort Universal gages were operated
during the latter part of the winter at the locations shown in table 1. As with all Belfort
gages used in this study, the two near Albany were equipped with Alter wind shields. The
Albany gages were located in protected clearings in the forest.

The standard mode of clutter suppression with the Albany WSR-88D during storms of the
past winter was to always use the Clutter Bypass Map and moderate suppression (personal
communication with John Quinlan). No operator-designated boxes with zero suppression
were attempted near Albany because of complex terrain and corresponding widespread
ground clutter.

To date, no analysis of the Albany radar and snowboard data has been undertaken.

3.3. Denver, Colorado, Observations

Snow measurement sites within range of the Denver radar were selected by Reclamation
meteorologists after consideration of several factors to be discussed, including examination
of maps and considerable on-the-ground searching. The Denver area provides both prairie
locations, chiefly affected by upslope storms, and mountain locations affected by various
storm types.

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