SMART radar intercepts T.S. Gabrielle

Tropical Storm Gabrielle was successfully intercepted by one of the Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radars (SMART-R) as it came onshore near Venice, Florida in September 2001. This was the first time a mobile 5 cm Doppler radar intercepted a land-falling tropical cyclone. The radar, a shared facility jointly owned and maintained by NSSL, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and OU, was being operated at the time by Texas A&M scientists.

With an unobstructed view of the ocean, the SMART radar was set up on a concrete slab just west of the Venice airport. Data collection began as Gabrielle was approximately 100 miles southwest of the site. The eye of the tropical storm passed directly over the SMART radar position. Dr. Mike Biggerstaff and his students from Texas A&M measured 40 knot east winds, 20 minutes of calm wind, followed by 40 knots of northwest wind. Maximum observed Doppler velocities were 33 m/s, putting Gabrielle close to hurricane strength. Data was collected continuously for at least 13 hours. Images can be found on the SMART-R website at nssl.noaa.gov/smartradars.