Polarimetric radar observations of the Jersey tornadic supercell on 1–2 November 2023

Abstract

AbstractA large tornado and severe hailstorm struck Jersey, Channel Islands, just before midnight on 1–2 November 2023. Radar data are analysed to explore the morphology of the parent supercell thunderstorm. A tornado debris cloud was evident in polarimetric fields, collocated with a reflectivity ‘debris ball’. The debris cloud comprised a small region of exceptionally low correlation coefficient (<0.8) collocated with differential reflectivity ≤0dB. In vertical section, the debris signature comprised a column of low correlation coefficient and high reflectivity that tilted north‐northeast with height and extended to at least 2km above ground level.