The Verification of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) was conducted in the southern plains of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas during the spring months of 1994 and 1995. A primary goal of the program was to collect data using multiple platforms that would then be analyzed to test and possibly refute various tornadogenesis hypotheses. On June 8, 1995, VORTEX scientists were able to collect excellent data on a strong, long-lived non-tornadic supercell near Elmwood, Oklahoma. The analysis of this storm is presented as an example of tornadogenesis failure.
Doppler radar data from the airborne NCAR ELDORA and the
ground-based Doppler on Wheels (DOW), along with the surface mobile
mesonet and Mobile-CLASS sounding systems were used to collect data
while near and underneath the storm. The high spatial and temporal
resolutions of these data allow for a detailed analysis of the
three-dimensional wind field of the storm. Comparison between this
non-tornadic supercell storm and other tornadic storms sampled in
VORTEX clearly illustrate that many of the relevant features to the
tornadogenesis process are present in this storm. An analysis of the
dominant circulation features, the evolution of the rear and foward
flank downdrafts, the cyclonic/ anticyclonic circulation couplets,
surface boundaries, and other features of the storm will attempt to
determine the causes of tornadogenesis failure.