NSSL to study impacts of microbursts on electric power operations

NSSL operated the SMART-R in Arizona this summer in an effort to observe the lifecycle of strong microbursts and assess their impacts on the Salt River Project’s (SRP) electrical power transmission infrastructure in Phoenix. The SRP has a reputation for innovative use of radar and weather information in their daily operations towards highly efficient electrical energy production and transmission. The exploratory field research campaign will involve the SRP, NSSL, and the National Weather Service.

Field observations, coordinated by NSSL's Ken Howard, took place from July 10 through September, 2008 in central Arizona. NSSL will collect and archive radar data for analysis, and work with SRP engineers and meteorological staff to examine Doppler velocity fields and wind loading on SRP power poles and substations during severe storm and microburst events. Microbursts, strong downdrafts of air associated with thunderstorms, can produce damaging winds. NSSL will also be working with local NWS forecast offices to assess advance precipitation estimation techniques for utilization in their Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction System.