The lightning project

268. Hawkins Field, 5 Jul 2015:

This repeat-offender site (KHKS) had another case of missed thunderstorm. It did report a thunderstorm in the vicinity, beginning at 1323Z.

The map below has a valid time of 1230Z-1300Z:

During that half hour period, 11 lightning bolts struck within the red 5-mile range ring around Hawkins Field, with an additional 2 bolts

striking right on the red range ring. The was also other lightning within 10 miles. The reports coming out of KHKS near that time, were

as follows:

SPECI KHKS 051224Z 16005KT 10SM FEW008 SCT016 BKN024 23/21 A3009 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS T02280211
SPECI KHKS 051242Z 2SM -RA BR BKN007 BKN016 OVC026 23/21 A3011 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS RAB35 P0004 T02280211
SPECI KHKS 051245Z 1/2SM +RA FG BKN007 BKN019 OVC029 23/22 A3009 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS RAB35 P0018 T02280217
SPECI KHKS 051250Z VRB06KT 1/4SM +RA FG SCT007 BKN012 OVC020 23/22 A3009 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW-NE RAB35 P0031
METAR KHKS 051253Z 16007KT 1/2SM +RA FG SCT007 BKN018 OVC036 23/22 A3010 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW-NE RAB35 SLP183 P0033 T02280217
SPECI KHKS 051257Z VRB04KT 1 1/4SM -RA BR BKN009 BKN021 OVC046 23/22 A3009 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW-NE P0000 T02280217
SPECI KHKS 051300Z 00000KT 4SM -RA BR BKN009 BKN021 OVC032 23/22 A3009 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW-NE P0000 T02280217
SPECI KHKS 051314Z 23006KT 10SM -RA BKN013 BKN030 OVC110 23/22 A3010 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW-NE P0000 T02330217
SPECI KHKS 051323Z 16005KT 10SM VCTS SCT008 BKN015 BKN048 23/22 A3010 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW-NE RAE17 P0000 T02330222

So the first issue is, one of the main thunderstorm hazards, is strong winds. We don’t know what the winds were on the 3 reports with

the poorest visibility, because the winds were missing and were not backed up by ATC. The poor visibility was caused by the heavy rain.

The heavy rain, in turn, was caused by a thunderstorm. Yet, that thunderstorm went unmentioned in any of the reports prior to 1300Z.

That ran contrary to what the lightning data showed. Some of that lightning was close to the airport:

This site is capable of reporting thunderstorms, as they did later in the day:

METAR KHKS 051453Z 32006KT 10SM TS FEW010 BKN035 OVC070 24/22 A3014 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N-E TSB46 PRESRR SLP199 60033 T02390222 51016

It’s just that some thunderstorms are going unreported. How is a pilot supposed to trust METARs and SPECIs from LAWRS sites, when

cases like this have been happening?

269. Smyrna, Tennessee, 4 (5) Jul 2015:

Smyrna (KMQY) had some lightning, mostly to the east, between 0000Z and 0100Z on the 5th (UTC), which would have been July 4th

local time:

Now, they had just reported a thunderstorm earlier:

SPECI KMQY 042338Z 28006KT 2SM +TSRA BR BKN008 BKN028 OVC042CB 22/21 A2999 RMK AO2 OCNL CCCGICLTG TS OHD MOV E RAB2259 P0010

But the last mention of thunder that day, was at 2357Z:

SPECI KMQY 050003Z AUTO 21007KT 3SM +RA BR FEW001 BKN030 OVC049 22/21 A3000 RMK AO2 TSE2357 P0004

That observation was at 7:03 p.m. local time, and ASOS was put into AUTO mode for the overnight period. Airnav.com lists the tower

as closing at 7 p.m. on the weekends- plus this was the Independence Day holiday. But in the hour after the thunderstorm officially

ended, there was still lightning within 5 miles, which was noted as being in the “TS Zone” on the map above. US Highway 41 runs just

to the west of the airport, and the closest bolt either struck the highway, or right next to it:

So after the tower closed, ASOS in AUTO mode did not append TSNO in remarks. This makes it appear that ALDARS was functional.

If so, ALDARS missed all the lightning on the 2 maps above.

270. Springfield, Illinois, 4 Aug 2015:

In the afternoon of the 4th of August, Springfield (KSPI) had only one report all day, with any mention of inclement weather:

METAR KSPI 041952Z 00000KT 10SM -RA FEW041 FEW070 SCT120 26/18 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB51 SLP162 P0000 T02610178

The lightning plot display around KSPI from 1800Z-2013Z, showed this:

There was obviously a thunderstorm to the DSNT SW of Springfield, as evidenced by the many lightning bolts that struck outside the green

10-mile range ring around KSPI. No bolts struck in the “VCTS Zone”, which is 5-10 miles from the airfield. But 2 lightning bolts did strike

within the red 5-mile range ring. Those both met TS criteria; yet, no TS was recorded at KSPI that day. This site has had ALDARS since 25

Jul 2001. Since TSNO did not appear in any weather report that day, ALDARS was turned on. Somehow, though, ALDARS failed to detect

those 2 lightning bolts, shown below:


271. Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, 4 Aug 2015:

This site reported lightning in the pre-dawn hours:

METAR KVQQ 040650Z 16005KT 10SM FEW010 SCT017 SCT040 24/24
A2993 RMK OCNL LTGIC DSNT SW CB DSNT SW

However, later that day, somehow this site missed more lightning. Here is a display looking at roughly a 2-hour period on the 4th:

Can we narrow down where that lightning struck? Yes we can:

The above lightning plot map has a valid time of 1800Z-2016Z. It shows the same data as the previous map. So we can count 8

lightning bolts that struck within the green 10-mile range ring, that met VCTS criteria. In addition, there was 1 lightning bolt that

struck within the red 5-mile range ring, that met TS criteria. That bolt struck just south of Normandy Blvd, just across from the

Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Its distance from the center of Cecil Field appears to be about 2 miles. Yet, during the valid time

of the above 2 lightning maps, these were the reports coming out of Cecil Field:

METAR KVQQ 041750Z 20008KT 10SM SCT023 32/25 A3003
METAR KVQQ 041850Z 17007KT 10SM BKN049 28/24 A3005
METAR KVQQ 041950Z VRB05KT 10SM BKN060 26/23 A3004

As you can see, no TS, VCTS, or even DSNT LTG was reported at that time. So while this site recorded lightning in the pre-dawn hours,

it missed a thunderstorm that afternoon.

272. Florence, South Carolina, 5 Aug 2015:

This LAWRS site had thunderstorms blossom in mid-afternoon. Here is a Weather Tap lightning animation, from 1900Z-2030Z. Keep in

mind that Florence (KFLO) is located east of Columbia SC:

The position of Florence can be seen even better on this radar loop, with Florence being FLO:

The heavy rain that the radar showed, did reach Florence:

METAR KFLO 051753Z VRB06KT 10SM CLR 36/22 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP147
T03610222 10361 20267 58012
SPECI KFLO 051840Z 26013G21KT 220V310 1 1/2SM RA SCT050 SCT075
BKN100 32/23 A3000 RMK AO2 VIS 3/4V5 RAB34 PRESRR
P0013 T03220228
SPECI KFLO 051849Z 08012G31KT 3/4SM +RA SCT032 SCT055 BKN100
30/17 A2997 RMK AO2 PK WND 10031/1845 RAB34 P0029
SPECI KFLO 051850Z 10013G31KT 3/4SM RA SCT032 SCT055 BKN100
30/17 A2996 RMK AO2 PK WND 10031/1845 RAB34 P0029
METAR KFLO 051853Z 10012G31KT 10SM FEW026 SCT044 BKN100 30/19
A2996 RMK AO2 PK WND 10031/1845 RAB34E51 SLP142
P0029 T03000189

Was it actually clear at 1753Z, as reported? This satellite loop showed lots of cloudiness over KFLO:

ATC didn’t have time to augment the sky condition, from clear. But they should have known bad weather was approaching: a severe

thunderstorm warning was issued by the NWS:

WUUS52 KILM 051956
SVRILM
SCC031-041-052100-
/O.NEW.KILM.SV.W.0077.150805T1955Z-150805T2100Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
355 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTH CENTRAL FLORENCE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA...
EAST CENTRAL DARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT

* AT 355 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED OVER QUINBY...OR NEAR FLORENCE...
AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FLORENCE...DARLINGTON...QUINBY...MARS BLUFF...FLORENCE DARLINGTON
TECHNICAL COLLEGE MAIN CAMPUS...MECHANICSVILLE...HEALTH SOUTH
REHABILITATION HOSPITAL...MCLEOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER...
CAROLINAS HOSPITAL SYSTEM - CEDAR TOWER AND MCLEOD MEDICAL CENTER.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
161 AND 174.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...
DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO
AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY
RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER
COVERS THE ROAD.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON...TOLL FREE AT 800 - 697 - 3901...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

&&

LAT...LON 3432 7991 3436 7968 3435 7969 3433 7968
3432 7966 3430 7966 3430 7962 3429 7960
3426 7956 3423 7954 3421 7955 3419 7957
3415 7982
TIME...MOT...LOC 1955Z 254DEG 11KT 3422 7974

So, KFLO did not report any lightning or thunderstorm data during that period. Should they have done so?

Yes. Here is a detailed lightning plot map, centered on Florence Airport:

If the grey area represents airport property, then at least 3 lightning bolts struck the airport! Yet, a thunderstorm was not reported!

A case could be made for 5 lightning bolts hitting the airport, if the eastern end of runway 09/27 is included. How much lightning

was missed overall?

In this case, there was more lightning that struck within the TS zone, than the VCTS zone. 34 bolts struck within the red 5-mile range

ring around KFLO- none of which was reported by this LAWRS site!

There was an additional problem. Live lightning strike data at 2014Z, showed this:

Yet, here are 2 consecutive reports to be transmitted from KFLO, after the heavy rain had ended:

METAR KFLO 051853Z 10012G31KT 10SM FEW026 SCT044 BKN100 30/19 A2996 RMK AO2 PK WND 10031/1845 RAB34E51 SLP142 P0029 T03000189
METAR KFLO 060153Z AUTO 18003KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP148 T02440222 $

So there were several hours of missing reports from Florence that afternoon. The 1953Z-0053Z METARs were all missing. If there

was a second thunderstorm at KFLO on the 5th, it wasn’t reported because no reports came out of KFLO for several hours!

According to WBTW, channel 13 in Florence, small hail (pea and nickel sized) was reported at the airport:

wbtw.com/2015/08/05/florence-storms-leave-2700-without-power/

If you watch the video by channel 13 meteorologist Erin Moran, she has a graphic that clearly plots the lightning strikes around Florence.

What's interesting, is that the news story includes, "Along with strong winds and heavy rain with these storms, small hail was reported

at the Florence Regional Airport." One could not glean that information from any of the METARs nor SPECIs on that date, though. Hail,

lightning and thunder were just not recorded at Florence Regional Airport (KFLO) that day; plus, there were no weather reports transmitted

between 2:53 and 9:53 p.m.- probably due to the unreported thunderstorm!

273. Middle Georgia Regional Airport, Macon, Georgia, 5 Aug 2015:

This LAWRS site reported clear skies, giving way to scattered clouds, from 1800Z-2000Z on the 5th:

METAR KMCN 051753Z 22009G14KT 10SM CLR 34/22 A3002 RMK AO2
SLP160 T03440217 10350 20239 58009
METAR KMCN 051853Z 23009KT 10SM CLR 35/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP158
T03500217
METAR KMCN 051953Z 21008KT 10SM FEW055 34/21 A2999 RMK AO2
SLP151 T03440206
METAR KMCN 052053Z 25006KT 10SM SCT050 33/21 A2997 RMK AO2
SLP144 T03330206 58016

Yet, here is a Weather Tap lightning animation from 1900Z-2030Z on the 5th:

That loop of lightning data showed activity in the Macon area. Here is the lightningmaps.org lightning display between 1815Z-2020Z

on the 5th:

While most of the lightning was to the distant NE, some of it was closer. A thunderstorm in the vicinity is coded as VCTS; it is defined

by having lightning striking 5-10 miles from the airfield reference point. For Macon (KMCN), there were 2 strikes that met that criteria

in that roughly 2-hour period. Also, there was one lightning strike within the red 5-mile range ring, to the NNE, that met TS criteria.

That bolt struck west of the river, but east of U.S. Highway 129:

Yet no VCTS nor TS was reported. Even the more frequent LTG DSNT NE was ignored. That was a missed thunderstorm.

274. St. Lucie County Intl Arpt, Fort Pierce, Florida, 5 Aug 2015:

This LAWRS site had 3 cases last week. Here is another.

On the map above, the airport is located at the blue airplane icon. Lightning strikes recorded by lightningmaps.org, are plotted in purple,

with “deviation circles” around them. A stroke isn’t plotted unless at least 8 stations record it. The average location recorded by the stations

is plotted; with the location of the bolt as determined by all stations, lying on or within the deviation circle. Some lightning strike locations

are resolved better than others. Clearly, at least 5 lightning bolts struck close to KFPR airport during the 24+ valid period of the map. Can

we narrow down the time some?

The above map narrows the time to the window valid 1815Z-2020Z on 5 Aug. Those 5 lightning bolts that were purple on the first map,

are yellowish-orange on this one. That’s because the time scale is different. On the archived maps, the darker blue and purple colors

represent the oldest strikes. But if the oldest time frame is removed, the oldest (in this case, 2 hours) strikes are orange.

14 lightning bolts struck within the red 5-mile range ring around KFPR. That is the “TS Zone”, meaning that a thunderstorm (TS)

should have been recorded. But one was not recorded during that 2:05 hour window:

METAR KFPR 051753Z 12013KT 10SM CLR 32/24 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP190
T03220239 10328 20261 58007
METAR KFPR 051953Z 18019G27KT 1SM +RA SCT021 BKN042 BKN049
27/23 A3011 RMK AO2 PK WND 19027/1951 RAB49 PRESRR
SLP196 P0013 T02670228
SPECI KFPR 052000Z 18010G27KT 1/2SM +RA BKN021 BKN049 25/21
A3011 RMK AO2 PK WND 17026/1958 WSHFT 1940 P0030
T02500211
SPECI KFPR 052019Z 20005KT 5SM -RA BKN021 BKN049 25/22 A3010
RMK AO2 PK WND 17026/1958 WSHFT 1940 P0044 T02500222
METAR KFPR 052053Z 16003KT 10SM -RA FEW070 FEW100 26/24 A3007
RMK AO2 PK WND 17026/1958 WSHFT 1940 SLP181 P0049
60062 T02560239 58008

The airfield became low IFR when the heavy rain reduced the prevailing visibility to 1/2SM. That was right at 2000Z. That was also

during the time when lightning data showed that lightning was indeed occurring within 5 miles of KFPR. Therefore, what was reported

as 1/2SM +RA should have been 1/2SM +TSRA

If one examines radar and lightning loops, combining the information from these professional sources (Weather Tap and Intellicast) shows
+TSRA activity passing through the Ft. Pierce (FPR) area:


275. North Las Vegas Airport, Nevada, 7 Aug 2015:

This LAWRS site just had a case (#196) on 1 Aug, when ALDARS missed even DSNT LTG. ALDARS was commissioned at this site on

16 Mar 2000. But on Aug. 7th, it again made no mention of lightning, during the period of 1200Z-1400Z:

METAR KVGT 071153Z 15011KT 10SM BKN100 23/17 A2991 RMK AO2
SLP117 60000 T02330167 10283 20233 55003
METAR KVGT 071253Z 18004KT 10SM -RA BKN100 23/18 A2991 RMK
AO2 RAB07E16B51 SLP120 P0000 T02280178
METAR KVGT 071353Z 15004KT 10SM BKN100 BKN120 23/18 A2992
RMK AO2 RAE21 SLP125 P0000 T02280183

The lightning animation below, from Weather Tap, is valid from 1240Z-1410Z:

One can see lightning crossing from SW to NE over Clark County, which is the southernmost county in Nevada where Las Vegas is

located. The other 2 largest airports in the Las Vegas metro area, Henderson (KHND) and McCarran Intl (KLAS), reported thunder-

storms; both just before 1300Z:

SPECI KHND 071245Z 00000KT 10SM TS FEW049 OVC090 22/19 A2995
RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW TSB15E43B45RAB22E43 P0003
SPECI KLAS 071239Z 01006KT 10SM -TSRA FEW080CB SCT100 BKN180
23/17 A2988 RMK AO2 RAB11 TSB15E30B32 OCNL LTGCG
E AND S TS E AND S MOV NE P0005 T02330172

So it is established that there was lightning in the area. But how close was it to North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT)?

The closest lightning bolt struck on or near N. Jones Blvd, between W. Ann Rd. and W. Tropical Pkwy:

The distance from the center of the airport, to the center of the “deviation circle” (best triangulation of the bolt’s strike point),

was 4.21 miles.

Looking at the bigger picture, that was the only bolt that struck within the “TS Zone”:

In other words, one bolt struck within the red 5-mile range ring around KVGT; and that lightning strike met TS criteria. There were

2 additional bolts that struck within the green 10-mile range ring around KVGT, to the NNW and E; those bolts struck within the VCTS

Zone, meaning they met VCTS criteria. Yet, recalling the posted METARs from KVGT this morning, there was no mention of any lightning

activity; and no thunderstorm recorded. Thus, this thunderstorm was missed by ALDARS.

284. Panama City, Florida, 14 Aug 2015:

Panama City (KECP) reported a thunderstorm, then a thunderstorm in the vicinity, from 1849Z to 2053Z;

METAR KECP 141853Z 09005G14KT 10SM TS SCT055 34/19 A2999 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE-SW TSB49 SLP166 T03390189
SPECI KECP 141858Z 11009KT 10SM VCTS SCT055 34/20 A2999 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE AND NW TSE54 T03440200
METAR KECP 141953Z 15011KT 7SM VCTS BKN034 BKN110 28/21 A3000 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E AND SE AND NW TSE1854 SLP168 T02780211
METAR KECP 142053Z 21003KT 10SM SCT034 BKN110 27/22 A3000 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W-N SLP169 T02720217 55007

The first problem with the reports, was that the thunderstorm (TS) lasted from 1849Z-1854Z. That was a period of 5 minutes. By rule,

a thunderstorm cannot last less than 15 minutes. So this will be a case of when an error in observing, led to a misreported thunderstorm.

Here’s why:

As you can see, there was still lightning striking within the “TS Zone”, which is within 5 miles of the airport. The valid time of the map,

was the hour between 1900Z and 2000Z. That was after the thunderstorm within 5 miles (TS) ended at 1854Z. A VCTS (thunderstorm

within 10 miles, but outside of 5 miles from the observing site) was reported up until the 2053Z METAR. That ignored the 14 lightning

bolts that struck within the red 5-mile range ring around KECP. Zooming in, we can see that lightning struck as close as perhaps 3,000

feet west of the north end of runway 16/34:

The thunderstorm (TS) was ended too soon; and it this case, it was ended erroneously after a duration of only 5 minutes.

Errors in weather observations can thus lead to dangerous situations for pilots, and personnel on the ground!

285. North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida, 15 Aug 2015:

Moving to the south end of Florida, North Perry Airport in Hollywood (KHWO) had a rain shower between 1400Z and 1500Z:

METAR KHWO 151353Z 01005KT 10SM CLR 27/24 A3007 RMK AO2 RAB1254E24 SLP181 P0009 T02670244 $
METAR KHWO 151453Z 09003KT 10SM FEW034 28/24 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP189 P0003 60016 T02830239 $

Somehow at 1453Z, there was no RAB nor RAE time, like in the 1353Z METAR; but we know it had rained .03” since then, because

of the P0003 group. What users couldn’t tell from those METARs, was that a thunderstorm was off to the east:

The above map is valid from 1400Z-1500Z on the 15th. There were 8 lightning bolts that struck within the red 5-mile range ring that

went unreported as a TS. There was more lightning between the red and green range rings (5 and 10 miles out) that went unreported

as a VCTS. Those 8 lightning bolts within 5 miles, all struck west of Interstate 95, but east of Florida Highway 7:

Perhaps the controllers had their backs to the lightning, and didn’t see it. Perhaps the glass enclosure of the tower cab kept them from

hearing the thunder; or perhaps airplane noise did. Or perhaps they relied on ALDARS to catch and report that lightning. Clearly, that

didn’t happen.

286. Smyrna, Tennessee, 15 Aug 2015:

At Smyrna (KMQY), which recently had cases #260 and #269, a Weather Tap lightning animation showed that lightning was moving

northwards through the Smyrna area, just SE of Nashville:

That loop of lightning strikes is valid from 1850Z-2020Z on August 15th. The lightningmaps.org data agreed:

On the above map, the orange lightning position plots, would have a valid time as striking between 1815Z-2000Z. The weather observations

coming out of KMQY, though, were as follows:

METAR KMQY 151756Z VRB04KT 10SM FEW070 33/22 A3017 RMK AO2 58006 60000 T03270216 10333 20216 SLP219
METAR KMQY 151856Z 29007KT 10SM CLR 30/22 A3016 RMK AO2 T03000216 SLP219
SPECI KMQY 151945Z 22009G16KT 10SM BKN028 BKN060 24/18 A3017 RMK AO2 BKN V SCT
METAR KMQY 151956Z 22006KT 10SM BKN030 BKN060 24/18 A3016 RMK AO2 T02380177 SLP219
METAR KMQY 152056Z 16005KT 10SM CLR 26/19 A3014 RMK AO2 58011 T02550188 SLP210

The one SPECI during that period, was for the ceiling dropping to 2,800 feet, after the previous report of clear skies. There was no mention

of lightning nor thunder, in any of the above reports. That was despite the closeness of some of the lightning:

The first map included 6 lightning strikes within 5 miles. That means a thunderstorm went unreported by Smyrna that day.

287. South Bend, Indiana, 14 (15) Aug 2015:

This former CWO site had some thunderstorm issues over a few day period (see also case #291). On the evening of the 14th, here was

the lightning display around South Bend (KSBN) International Airport:

It’s very clear that both TS and VCTS criteria were met. Here is the same data, zoomed in on the airport:

However, the observations coming out of KSBN that evening, were as such:

METAR KSBN 150254Z 36025G35KT 10SM SCT030 BKN060 23/16 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 36035/0250 SLP197 T02280161 53014 $
SPECI KSBN 150306Z 36017G30KT 6SM HZ SCT031 SCT041 OVC060 20/17 A3014 RMK AO2 PK WND 01030/0258 WSHFT 0246 T02000167 PWINO $
SPECI KSBN 150313Z 36013G25KT 2SM R27L/6000VP6000FT BR BKN027 BKN032 OVC060 19/17 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 01030/0258 WSHFT 0246 T01890172 PWINO $
SPECI KSBN 150318Z 02014G25KT 1 3/4SM R27L/6000VP6000FT BR BKN030 OVC060 19/17 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 01030/0258 WSHFT 0246 T01890172 PWINO $
SPECI KSBN 150323Z 01011KT 3SM BR BKN032 BKN060 OVC090 19/17 A3014 RMK AO2 PK WND 01030/0258 WSHFT 0246 T01940172 PWINO $
METAR KSBN 150354Z 12005KT 9SM BKN100 OVC120 19/18 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 01030/0258 WSHFT 0246 SLP196 T01940178 PWINO $
SPECI KSBN 150431Z 22010KT 10SM FEW005 SCT120 19/18 A3016 RMK AO2 T01940178 PWINO $
METAR KSBN 150454Z 07004KT 10SM FEW006 BKN120 19/18 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP208 T01940178 403170189 PWINO $

There was an outage concerning the rain gage; for when automated stations are equipped with a precipitation identifier and that sensor

is not working, the remark PWINO is included. In the absence of being able to report rain, ASOS determined that the obstruction to vision

was haze, then mist. But meteorologically speaking, 35 knots of wind isn’t going to blow in haze; it would disperse it. That much mist

could be blown in as advection fog; but that is common along winter, fall or spring warm fronts; and this is August. But if it had been raining,

 visibility as low as 1.75 miles could have been expected. Combine that with the lightning data, and the 0318Z SPECI that read 1 3/4SM BR,

should have read 1 3/4SM TSRA. That was likely the case, especially isolating the 5 minute period between 0320Z and 0325Z:

This site not only missed a thunderstorm; it very likely missed reporting all the rain that fell from that thunderstorm. See also case #291.

288. Columbia, Missouri, 17 Aug 2015:

Columbia (KCOU) reported- and misreported- a thunderstorm between 6 and 7 p.m.:

SPECI KCOU 172321Z 17006KT 10SM TS FEW047 SCT060 25/21 A2997 RMK AO2 TSB15 OCNL LTGICCC TS WSW MOV E T02500206
SPECI KCOU 172335Z 31009KT 6SM +RA BR SCT038 SCT047 BKN065 24/22 A2997 RMK AO2 RAB26 TSB15E35 OCNL LTGICCC TS

WSW MOV E P0002 T02390217 (the remark of TS WSW did not match present weather, which omitted TS)

Before that though, there had been a period when towering cumulus clouds produced a rain shower:

METAR KCOU 171754Z 21004KT 10SM FEW065 31/21 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP150 T03060211 10306 20206 58017
METAR KCOU 171854Z 30012KT 10SM -RA SCT041TCU BKN095 27/23 A2999 RMK AO2 RAB38 SLP148 VCSH P0000 T02670228
METAR KCOU 171954Z 00000KT 10SM -RA FEW055 BKN070 28/21 A2998 RMK AO2 RAE30B51 SLP144 P0000 T02780206

While convective clouds were at least identified, the magnitude of the clouds were not. Towering cumulus clouds do not produce

lightning; but cumulonimbus clouds do. The data indicates there was lightning around Columbia at that time:

That chart is valid for the period between 1800Z and 1900Z on the 17th. Clearly, there was a thunderstorm, mostly to the north.

But there was some lightning produced from the CB clouds, that struck within the green 10-mile range ring around KCOU. Also,

3 bolts struck within the red 5-mile range ring. Both TS and VCTS criteria were met; yet neither TS nor VCTS were reported. All

of that lightning was somehow missed.

Weather Tap data agreed. Here is a Weather Tap lightning animation for that period. Jefferson City Missouri can be seen on the far

left (west) side of the map; Columbia is just south of that:

So while the 2335Z thunderstorm went misreported at KCOU; the 1830Z thunderstorm went unreported.

289. Kenosha, Wisconsin, 17 Aug 2015:

Kenosha (KENW) had an hour in which distant lightning was recorded:

Notice the METAR overlaid upon the map. It shows the LTG DSNT report. It did not include any TSB nor TSE time; nor was TS or

VCTS in present weather. That means that all of the lightning depicted within the green 10-mile range ring, went unreported. 6 of

those bolts also fell within the red 5-mile range ring around Kenosha. Let’s zoom in on those 6 bolts:

They didn’t all strike at once, as their locations plots are different colors. That meant the LAWRS observer had 3, perhaps 6 opportunities

to see lightning, and hear thunder. But that didn’t happen, so this goes down as an unreported thunderstorm at Kenosha.

290. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Mississippi, 17 Aug 2015:

Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (KGPT) had 2 issues during the day on 17 Aug. First, there was heavy rain between  1100Z and 1200Z:

METAR KGPT 171053Z 18007KT 10SM SCT060 BKN075 28/23 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP161 T02780233 $
SPECI KGPT 171118Z 23009G19KT 190V260 1 3/4SM +RA BR FEW014 BKN030 OVC055 23/22 A3004 RMK AO2 VIS 1V4 RAB04 PRESRR P0017 T02330222 $
SPECI KGPT 171127Z 24005G20KT 1SM +RA BR FEW013 BKN020 OVC045 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 RAB04 P0045 T02280222 RVRNO $
SPECI KGPT 171137Z 00000KT 3SM RA BR BKN031 BKN044 OVC120 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 RAB04 P0050 T02280222 $
METAR KGPT 171153Z 32004KT 4SM RA BR FEW035 BKN095 OVC120 23/22 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB04 SLP164 P0054 60056 70074 T02280217 10278 20228 53013 $

While gusty winds and heavy rain were reported, this went unreported:

Zooming in, much of that lightning struck before 1120Z:

The present weather code at 1118Z, should have been +TSRA instead of +RA.

Later, another thunderstorm was missed. Between 1545Z and 1809Z, this was the lightning display around KGPT:


These were the pertinent weather reports:

METAR KGPT 171553Z 13007KT 10SM SCT024 27/24 A3003 RMK AO2 RAB40E50 SLP169 P0000 T02720239
METAR KGPT 171653Z 12009KT 10SM -RA BKN075 OVC095 27/24 A3003 RMK AO2 RAB00E10B29 SLP168 P0000 T02670244
METAR KGPT 171753Z 14010KT 10SM -RA FEW042 BKN100 26/24 A3002 RMK AO2 RAE32B49 SLP165 P0002 60008 T02610239 10278 20228 58001
METAR KGPT 171853Z COR 17006KT 10SM SCT045 SCT065 27/24 A3001 RMK AO2 RAE18 SLP161 P0001 T02720244

So while a bit of light rain was recorded during that period, no lightning was mentioned. That was despite plenty of LTG DSNT NE-S;

but also, 16 bolts that met VCTS criteria, were ignored. That was a missed VCTS by KGPT.

291. South Bend, Indiana, 17 Aug 2015:

South Bend just had case #287 from Aug. 15th. This case will be a bit different. By 1950Z, thunderstorms were approaching South Bend:

Note the METAR superimposed near the bottom of this map:

KSBN did start a thunderstorm at 2150Z. The trouble is, the valid time of that map, is for 2100Z-2145Z on the 17th. That means that

all of the lightning on that map, struck before the thunderstorm at South Bend even began- much of it well before!

Recall that in case #287, South Bend had had issues with its precipitation sensor. It appears that happened again:

METAR KSBN 172054Z 17008KT 10SM CLR 29/18 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP153 T02940183 56016 $
SPECI KSBN 172140Z 27016G30KT 4SM HZ SCT036 BKN048 BKN075 22/19 A3005 RMK AO2 PK WND 24034/2125 WSHFT 2120 T02170189 $
SPECI KSBN 172143Z 27014G30KT 1 1/2SM R27L/6000VP6000FT BR FEW021 BKN048 OVC075 22/19 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 24034/2125 WSHFT 2120 T02170194 $
SPECI KSBN 172147Z 28010G21KT 1/2SM R27L/3000VP6000FT FG SCT019 BKN034 OVC075 21/20 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 24034/2125 WSHFT 2120 T02110200 $
METAR KSBN 172154Z 33006KT 1/2SM R27L/3000VP6000FT +TSRA BKN023 BKN036 OVC045 21/20 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 24034/2125 WSHFT 2120 RAB50 TSB50 SLP164 P0032 T02110200 $

Here, we are to believe from the official reports, that 30 knots of wind blew in so much haze that visibility was restricted to 4 miles.

After that, the 30 knot winds caused mist to restrict visibility to 1.5 miles. Then the strong winds blew in fog, as the visibility dropped

to ½ a mile. THEN the rain started.

It makes much more meteorological sense, to believe that the reports were inaccurate. Rain would better explain the drop in visibility,

than would haze-mist-fog. The $ sign at the end of the observation, the maintenance indicator sign, $, is included when an ASOS/AWSS

detects that maintenance is needed on the system. It could have been that the present weather indicator or rain gage was not working

correctly. In any event, the lightning data shows that the thunderstorm arrived sooner than was reported; so believing that the rain

arrived sooner than was reported, is reasonable.

Here is an animation, showing the progression of the lightning towards South Bend. Keep in mind that all the lightning struck, before the

official start of the thunderstorm:

301. Morgantown, West Virginia, 18 Aug 2015:

What is the FAA policy, regarding ALDARS operation when the control tower is closed? Often, thunderstorms are missed,

because ALDARS is turned off overnight. Here is another such case.

Morgantown (KMGW) had been in AUTO/TSNO mode, when some heavy rain struck the airport:

SPECI KMGW 180726Z AUTO 22010G19KT 2SM +RA FEW012 BKN029
OVC065 22/19 A3009 RMK AO2 VIS 1 1/4V4 RAB18 P0012
T02220189 TSNO
SPECI KMGW 180732Z AUTO 22013G20KT 3SM RA FEW012 BKN032 OVC055
22/19 A3009 RMK AO2 RAB18 P0016 T02170189 TSNO
SPECI KMGW 180737Z AUTO 23010G20KT 1 3/4SM +RA FEW014 BKN032
OVC050 22/18 A3010 RMK AO2 RAB18 P0025 T02170183
TSNO
SPECI KMGW 180748Z AUTO 23008G16KT 1SM +RA FEW006 BKN025
OVC050 21/18 A3010 RMK AO2 RAB18 P0046 TSNO
METAR KMGW 180753Z AUTO 22007G16KT 180V260 1SM +RA FEW010
BKN019 OVC036 21/18 A3010 RMK AO2 RAB18 SLP181
P0058 T02110183 TSNO
SPECI KMGW 180758Z AUTO 22006KT 3/4SM +RA FEW006 BKN016 OVC033
21/18 A3010 RMK AO2 P0014 T02110183 TSNO
SPECI KMGW 180811Z AUTO 23004KT 1 1/4SM RA FEW004 FEW010
OVC031 21/18 A3009 RMK AO2 P0033 T02110183 TSNO

Some of that rainfall, included lightning:

That was the lightning display between 0700Z and 0800Z on 18 Aug around Morgantown. Some lightning met VCTS criteria, while 3 bolts

met TS criteria. None of that lightning was reported, because ALDARS was turned off. The closest lightning, was between 0745-0750Z:


302. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 19 Aug 2015:

Sometimes, the ATC LAWRS observers miss a lot of lightning. ALDARS is not listed as being installed at Baton Rouge (KBTR).

But placing the observations from a few hours that day, next to the lightning maps, is revealing:

SPECI KBTR 191445Z 21006KT 1/2SM +RA FG BKN019 BKN034 OVC100
25/23 A2998 RMK AO2 P0020 T02500233 RVRNO
METAR KBTR 191453Z 25009KT 1/2SM +RA FG FEW010 BKN021 OVC035
24/23 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP149 P0042 60044 T02440228
53023 RVRNO

SPECI KBTR 191508Z 23018G27KT 1/2SM +RA FG FEW008 BKN024
OVC035 24/23 A3001 RMK AO2 PK WND 22027/1503 PRESRR
P0025 T02390228 RVRNO
SPECI KBTR 191541Z 23008KT 3SM +RA BR BKN039 OVC065 23/22
A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 22027/1503 P0101 T02330222
METAR KBTR 191553Z 24007KT 3SM RA BR BKN009 BKN035 OVC070
23/22 A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 22027/1503 SLP166 P0106
T02330222

METAR KBTR 191653Z 26008KT 3SM +RA BR BKN009 BKN070 OVC080
23/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP165 P0020 T02330222


Since there were NO LTG nor TS data in any of the METARs or SPECIs above; all of the lightning on the 3 maps above, went unreported!

Imagine that at nearby New Orleans or Houston! That was regardless of the closeness of some of the lightning strikes:

A Weather Tap lightning animation, also showed lightning striking around Baton Rouge at that time:

If lightning is going unreported; what other weather-related hazards are going unreported? (see case #309 for one answer)

303. Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, Louisiana, 21 Aug 2015:

We don’t have to imagine lots of lightning being missed in nearby New Orleans. It happened at Lakefront Airport (KNEW), a LAWRS

site, on 21 Aug:

How does that much lightning go unreported? I counted 37 lightning strikes within the red 5-mile range ring around KNEW; yet, the

observations superimposed on the map, lacked any reference to thunderstorms. Before it is claimed that is unfair to say, because only

the METAR from the first hour was shown on the map, here is the next METAR:

METAR KNEW 212053Z 22005KT 9SM SCT021 BKN025 OVC055 28/23
A3003 RMK AO2 RAE05 SLP164 P0000 60021 T02780233
51009

There was no reference to lightning, nor thunderstorm, on that METAR either. How either/or ATC/ALDARS missed that much lightning, is

unclear.

304. Hector Intl Airport, Fargo, North Dakota, 22 Aug 2015:

At Hector Intl (KFAR), some heavy rain fell between 2000Z and 2100Z on 22 Aug:

SPECI KFAR 222038Z 22023G29KT 2SM +RA FEW015 BKN031 OVC038
24/21 A2945 RMK AO2 PK WND 15029/2034 RAB34 P0000
T02390206
SPECI KFAR 222040Z 22017G29KT 3/4SM +RA BR FEW009 BKN026
OVC033 23/21 A2945 RMK AO2 PK WND 15029/2034 RAB34
P0000 T02280206
SPECI KFAR 222049Z 24015KT 1/2SM +RA FG FEW008 BKN015 OVC031
22/21 A2943 RMK AO2 PK WND 15029/2034 WSHFT 2029
RAB34 P0035
METAR KFAR 222053Z 26021G29KT 1 3/4SM RA BR SCT008 BKN017
OVC031 22/21 A2944 RMK AO2 PK WND 15029/2034 WSHFT
2029 RAB34 SLP965 P0037 60037 T02170206 55017

The heavy rain, plus gusty winds up to 29 knots, were clues that there could have been lightning in the area. No lightning was

reported. Here is the lightning display around KFAR that hour:

Now, let’s zoom in:

Lightning struck the west side of the airport! Yet, no thunderstorm was recorded. Thus, this goes down as another missed thunderstorm

at KFAR.

305. Jefferson City, Missouri, 22 Aug 2015:

Same day, different town. Jefferson City (KJEF) residents woke up to thunderstorms:

Much of that lightning, was close to the airport:

One bolt, between 1020Z-1025Z, appears to have struck the airport itself:

Yet, because ASOS had been in AUTO/TSNO mode overnight, none of that lightning was reported:

METAR KJEF 220953Z AUTO 12007KT 1 1/2SM +RA BR SCT029 BKN047
OVC090 18/16 A3000 RMK AO2 RAB39 SLP144 P0027
T01830161 TSNO
SPECI KJEF 221030Z AUTO 08009G20KT 3SM -RA BR BKN024 BKN029
OVC036 21/18 A2999 RMK AO2 P0079 T02060183 TSNO

Now, while lightning didn’t get reported with ASOS in TSNO mode, the LAWRS observer signed on in time for the next METAR:

METAR KJEF 221053Z 10009KT 10SM BKN029 OVC035 19/18 A2998
RMK AO2 RAE43 SLP137 P0079 T01940178
METAR KJEF 221153Z 01010KT 10SM -RA FEW014 BKN023 OVC037
19/18 A3001 RMK AO2 RAB42 SLP149 P0001 60107 70107
T01940178 10206 20178 53005

Yet, lightning data also showed more lightning in the area after that METAR:

Somehow, none of that lightning was reported either, as no LTG/TS data appeared even on the 1153Z METAR.

306. Stillwater, Oklahoma, 22 Aug 2015:

At Stillwater (KSWO), ALDARS was activated on 25 Apr 2000, according to the NWS AMSS web page:

So, why would ALDARS be turned off/disabled, overnight? By doing so, ATC allowed ASOS to miss this:

Notice in the SPECI superimposed upon the map, that there had been a wind gust to 56 knots! That would have been a severe

thunderstorm- if only thunder had been reported! By ALDARS being turned off, the official report was that a severe rain

shower struck the airport! The code for heavy rain shower is +RA. Does this look like a +RA to you?

There was so much lightning around Stillwater, one can barely see the airport icon!

That was between 1200Z-1300Z, which was between 7 and 8 a.m. local time. Stillwater tower is listed as being open from 0800-2000 local

time. But that day, they kept ASOS in AUTO/TSNO mode all day, except for the 2 METARS at 2253Z and 2353Z (5:53 and 6:53 p.m.). Why

was that? And why wasn’t ALDARS enabled? ALDARS was also turned off during an earlier missed thunderstorm:

Around that time, another heavy rain shower was recorded:

SPECI KSWO 220537Z AUTO 03007KT 2SM +RA BR SCT025 OVC048 19/18 A2996 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0440 RAB23 P0021 T01890183 TSNO

Yet, lightning appears to have struck at, or very near the airport:

So, while the official climate record for this site, does not have August 22, 2015 as a “thunderstorm day”; the data shows that there was

in fact, a severe thunderstorm which hit the airport! Plus, a second thunderstorm went unreported. So the next time a forecaster in that

part of the country wants to issue a TAF, and is wondering if severe thunderstorms really strike that early in the morning; they won’t have

the correct data from KSWO to enter into the equation. Garbage in, garbage out! (Late edit: see also case #356, for another missed severe

thunderstorm from this site!)

307. Crystal Airport, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 22-23 Aug 2015:

Late on the 22nd at Crystal Airport (KMIC), here is a sampling of the weather reports issued:

METAR KMIC 222153Z 16018G30KT 10SM BKN038 OVC046 27/20 A2969
RMK AO2 PK WND 17031/2115 SLP047 T02720200
SPECI KMIC 222245Z 17016G31KT 1 3/4SM RA FEW026 SCT033 OVC043
24/21 A2967 RMK AO2 PK WND 16034/2235 RAB25 P0010
T02440206
METAR KMIC 222253Z 15015G24KT 2SM -RA FEW030 BKN040 OVC080
24/21 A2966 RMK AO2 PK WND 16034/2235 RAB25 SLP038
P0012 T02390206
METAR KMIC 222353Z 16013G19KT 10SM BKN041 OVC055 24/21 A2966
RMK AO2 PK WND 16029/2311 RAE22 SLP040 P0000 60012
T02440206 10283 20239 55018
METAR KMIC 230053Z 18017G28KT 10SM SCT023 BKN028 OVC040 26/21
A2965 RMK AO2 PK WND 17028/0049 SLP034 T02560206
SPECI KMIC 230117Z 21016G30KT 1 1/2SM +RA SCT014 BKN020 OVC036
24/21 A2967 RMK AO2 PK WND 16038/0103 RAB01 PRESRR
P0025 T02390211
SPECI KMIC 230123Z 21011G25KT 1 1/4SM RA BR FEW007 BKN016
OVC036 23/21 A2966 RMK AO2 PK WND 16038/0103 WSHFT
0107 RAB01 P0030 T02330211
METAR KMIC 230153Z 26012KT 7SM FEW020 BKN028 OVC034 22/18
A2971 RMK AO2 PK WND 16038/0103 WSHFT 0119 RAB01E33
PRESRR SLP057 P0030 T02170183

Those were all the METARs, plus the SPECIs containing the worst conditions, between 2200Z and 0200Z (all on the 22nd, local time).

There was moderate to heavy rain, and wind gusts as strong as 38 knots. But there were no reports of lightning nor thunder. There

should have been:

While the map above has a 4-hour valid period, it shows that 2 separate thunderstorms affected the area near KMIC airport. As shown

by the SPECIs above, there were 2 rounds of moderate rain with gusty winds. So one storm would be represented by the purple lightning

strike plots; while the other would be represented by the orange lightning strike plots. It was that second thunderstorm, which produced

a lightning strike very close to the airport at about 0104Z:

So of the 19 lightning bolts that struck within the red 5-mile range ring around KMIC, none of them was reported. The evidence shows

that KMIC failed to report 2 thunderstorms on Aug. 22nd.

308. Ft. Smith Regional Airport, Arkansas, 23 Aug 2015:

Another case of 2 missed thunderstorms over several hours in the same day, comes to us from Ft. Smith Airport (KFSM). First, here is

the lightning display around Ft. Smith, for the 6-hour period from 1200Z-1800Z:

Quite a bit of lightning struck, in 2 separate thunderstorms. The blue/purple dots represent lightning bolts that struck early in

the period; while the yellow/orange dots represents lightning that struck late in the period. Now, if there had been 2 separate

thunderstorms during that period, the METARs would either show TS in present weather; or something like TSB15E30 in remarks.

Here are the METARs for said period:

METAR KFSM 231153Z 07005KT 7SM OVC003 22/20 A2996 RMK AO2
SLP140 70011 T02170200 10222 20211 51009
METAR KFSM 231253Z 03018G29KT 3SM R25/5000VP6000FT +RA BR
FEW026 BKN035 OVC045 21/19 A3010 RMK AO2 PK WND
02032/1241 RAB46 SLP189 P0003 T02110189
METAR KFSM 231353Z 00000KT 10SM -RA FEW050 SCT080 OVC110
21/18 A3011 RMK AO2 PK WND 03028/1307 SLP194 P0059
T02060183
METAR KFSM 231453Z 00000KT 3SM RA BKN090 BKN110 21/18 A3013
RMK AO2 SLP198 P0007 60069 T02110183 51056
METAR KFSM 231553Z 13005KT 9SM -RA BKN110 21/18 A3010 RMK
AO2 SLP188 P0013 T02060183
METAR KFSM 231653Z 22007KT 10SM -RA SCT110 21/18 A3005 RMK
AO2 PRESFR SLP171 P0006 T02110183
METAR KFSM 231753Z 8SM -RA FEW060 SCT090 BKN110 21/19 A3004
RMK AO2 SLP167 P0006 60094 T02110189 10239 20206
55021
METAR KFSM 231853Z 35009KT 10SM FEW007 23/20 A3001 RMK AO2
RAE16 SLP160 P0000 T02280200

Notice the lack of any lightning (LTG) or thunderstorm (TS) recorded in either present weather or remarks (notice also that the winds were

missing on the 1753Z METAR). So all of the lightning on the first map, went unreported. Did the SPECIs show anything?

SPECI KFSM 231302Z 02015G21KT 2 1/2SM +RA BR BKN022 BKN035
OVC043 21/19 A3011 RMK AO2 P0005 T02110189=
SPECI KFSM 231312Z 02016G28KT 340V040 1 1/2SM R25/5000VP6000FT
+RA BR FEW010 BKN021 OVC037 21/19 A3012 RMK AO2
PK WND 03028/1307 P0025 T02060189
SPECI KFSM 231328Z 05007KT 2 1/2SM +RA BR FEW010 FEW015 OVC032
21/19 A3011 RMK AO2 PK WND 03028/1307 P0053 T02060189

SPECI KFSM 231748Z 00000KT 2 1/2SM RA BR FEW060 SCT090 BKN110
21/19 A3002 RMK AO2 P0005

So the SPECIs showed one band of heavy rain moving over KFSM early in the 6-hour period; and a band of moderate rain moving over

KFSM at 1748Z. Is that not what the lightning data supports? The blue/purple dots on the first lightning map, coincide with the shower

that was heaviest at 1312Z; while the yellow/orange dots match up with the shower that peaked at 1748Z. Of course, both of those were

actually thundershowers. The first one had its lightning activity peak near KFSM between 1215Z-1330Z:

The second thundershower moved across the area between 1700-1800Z:

So, like KMIC, KFSM missed reporting 2 thunderstorms in one day.

309. South Bend, Indiana, 23 Aug 2015:

South Bend (KSBN) had recent cases 287 and 291. On 23 Aug, there seemed to be maintenance issues with ASOS:

METAR KSBN 231654Z 20008KT 10SM SCT038 SCT050 BKN075 24/21
A2987 RMK AO2 SLP109 T02440206 $
SPECI KSBN 231737Z 22007KT 1 1/2SM R27L/4500VP6000FT BR FEW037
SCT070 OVC110 23/21 A2986 RMK AO2 T02330211 $
SPECI KSBN 231742Z 22009KT 1/2SM R27L/2400VP6000FT TS BKN025
BKN075 OVC100 23/21 A2986 RMK AO2 TSB39 T02280211 $
SPECI KSBN 231750Z 24007KT 1SM R27L/2400VP6000FT BR FEW007
BKN023 OVC090 22/21 A2987 RMK AO2 TSB39E50 $
METAR KSBN 231754Z 21007KT 3SM R27L/3000VP6000FT BR FEW007
BKN025 OVC070 22/21 A2987 RMK AO2 TSB39E50 SLP108
T02220211 10256 20189 56012 $
SPECI KSBN 231807Z 19009KT 1 1/2SM R27L/4500VP6000FT BR FEW008
BKN018 OVC047 22/21 A2987 RMK AO2 T02220206 $
SPECI KSBN 231821Z 19008KT 10SM -RA FEW008 BKN017 OVC038
23/21 A2986 RMK AO2 RAB15 P0000 T02280211 $

Note the presence of the maintenance indicator, the $ symbol. That indicated that something was wrong; but what was it? First, there

was a thunderstorm reported from 1739Z-1750Z. According to the rules, that’s not correct; a thunderstorm by definition, lasts at least

15 minutes. In this case, an 11-minute thunderstorm was recorded. LAWRS didn’t seem to care that the thunderstorm was ended

prematurely.

But also, it is evident from the data, that the rain gage was malfunctioning. Rain did not officially begin until 1815Z. So, are we to

believe that 7 knots of wind, blew in so much mist, that the RVR was reading less than a mile at 1737Z? Or that the prevailing

visibility at 1742Z dropped to ½ a mile due to… thunder? Thunder is not an obstruction to vision; so it was obvious that something

else was causing the poor visibility. That something else, was heavy rain:

When thunderstorms strike, one of their associated hazards is heavy rain. But in this case, heavy rain just wasn’t reported.

But the incorrectly reported 11-minute thunderstorm, also posed additional hazards. There was lightning striking within 5 miles of the

airport, prior to 1730Z:

The thunderstorm officially began at 1739Z. That means all the lightning on the above map went unrecorded. Also, the official ending

time of the thunderstorm was 1750Z. If that was the case, there wouldn’t be lightning within 5 miles of the airport on the following map:

Lightning that struck at 1750Z, within 5 miles, would mean that the thunderstorm couldn’t have ended before 1805Z. So this is a case

when the thunderstorm was officially begun too late; was officially ended too early; and officially didn’t have any rain with it during the

period of the worst visibility. It’s time to bring back contract weather observers to South Bend!

310. Midland, Texas, 23 Aug 2015:

Midland Airport (KMAF) had some heavy rain on the evening of the 23rd. Some of the reports run into the 24th, UTC:

METAR KMAF 232253Z 02012KT 10SM CLR 28/16 A3006 RMK AO2 WSHFT
2205 SLP130 T02830161
SPECI KMAF 232325Z 01010G26KT 1SM -RA SCT080 SCT095 BKN110
26/17 A3012 RMK AO2 PK WND 35026/2318 RAB20 PRESRR
P0000 T02610172
SPECI KMAF 232330Z 03005KT 4SM -RA BKN075 BKN095 26/18 A3014
RMK AO2 PK WND 35026/2318 RAB20 PRESRR P0000 T02560178
SPECI KMAF 232339Z 06010KT 1 1/2SM +RA FEW039 BKN070 OVC080
24/18 A3015 RMK AO2 PK WND 35026/2318 RAB20 P0004
T02390183
SPECI KMAF 232350Z 03020G25KT 3/4SM +RA BR BKN031 OVC075
21/19 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 35026/2318 RAB20 P0028
METAR KMAF 232353Z 03021KT 3/4SM +RA BR BKN037 OVC070 21/19
A3011 RMK AO2 PK WND 03026/2353 RAB20 PRESFR SLP155
P0032 60032 T02110189 10350 20211 50017
SPECI KMAF 240002Z 01028G34KT 1SM +RA BR BKN040 BKN065 OVC090
21/19 A3011 RMK AO2 PK WND 01034/2359 P0009 T02060189
SPECI KMAF 240010Z 03019G29KT 3SM RA SCT038 BKN065 OVC090
21/18 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 01034/2359 P0011 T02060183

What was missing from any of those reports, was lightning and thunder. Yet, between 23/2300Z-24/0000Z, this was the lightning display

around KMAF:

None of the lightning within the green 10-mile range ring was reported. Subtracting the 3 bolts of the 64 bolts that struck within the

grid to the north of the airport, gives 61; all of the 17 bolts in the grid to the south of the airport, plus the 3 bolts to the ESE of the

airport; fell within 10 miles yet went unreported. That totals 81 unreported bolts, not even counting the grid to the ENE! Zooming in,

we can see how much lightning struck close to the airport:

LAWRS somehow missed all that lightning. If smaller airports are so busy that 81+ lightning strikes can go unreported, what will

happen if LAWRS takes over at larger airports?

311. Saginaw International Airport, Michigan, 23 Aug 2015:

Saginaw (KMBS) also had some heavy rain, late on the 23rd:

METAR KMBS 232053Z 17007KT 5SM -RA SCT050 BKN065 OVC090 22/19
A2980 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW SLP090 P0010 60031 T02170189
56010 $
SPECI KMBS 232111Z 16009KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR FEW034 BKN048 OVC100
21/19 A2980 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 5 P0009 T02110189
SPECI KMBS 232123Z 18010KT 3SM -RA BR FEW011 BKN037 OVC050
21/19 A2981 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE P0013 T02110189
SPECI KMBS 232126Z 19013KT 2SM RA BR FEW009 BKN033 OVC050
21/19 A2981 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE P0019 T02110189
SPECI KMBS 232130Z 17013KT 1/2SM +RA BR FEW009 BKN022 OVC055
21/19 A2980 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 3/4 LTG DSNT E P0038
T02060189 RVRNO
SPECI KMBS 232150Z 17006KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR SCT006 BKN012 OVC023
21/19 A2979 RMK AO2 P0066
METAR KMBS 232153Z 23007KT 2SM RA BR SCT006 BKN010 OVC022
21/19 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP086 P0067 T02110189

Between 2100Z and 2200Z, this was the lightning display around Saginaw:

A total of 13 lightning bolts struck within the green 10-mile range ring; 5 of which also struck within the red 5-mile range ring.

Yet during that hour when .67” of rain fell, neither VCTS nor TS was reported. LTG DSNT was recorded in remarks, but that

ignored the closer lightning:

Instead of +RA during that hour, the present weather code should have been +TSRA .

312. Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, 23 Aug 2015:

Another site that had issues late on the 23rd, was Cecil Field (KVQQ). This site had moderate rain late that afternoon:

METAR KVQQ 232050Z 15007KT 10SM SCT055 33/25 A2992
METAR KVQQ 232150Z 35011G31KT 3SM RA OVC009 33/25 A2996
METAR KVQQ 232250Z 01010G15KT 4SM RA OVC015 22/22 A2996
METAR KVQQ 232350Z 00000KT 10SM OVC015 23/23 A2999

Cecil Field should have reported more than just moderate rain:

The above lightning map, has a 2-hour valid time, from 2100Z-2300Z on the 23rd. It shows at least 22 bolts had struck within the red

5-mile range ring around KVQQ (there were 2-3 bolts right on the ring); with even more lightning strikes between the 5 and 10-mile

range rings (which would meet VCTS criteria). Neither TS nor VCTS was recorded. Some of the lightning was very close to the runways:

This marks the 9th time since case #200, that KVQQ has missed a thunderstorm (see also cases 207,225,238,271,277,283,295 and 299).

313. Flagstaff, Arizona, 25 (26) Aug 2015:

Yet another site that reported heavy rain, without thunder, was Flagstaff (KFLG). This occurred late enough on the 25th, that it showed

up on reports from the 26th UTC:

METAR KFLG 252357Z 09010G20KT 10SM FEW029 BKN049 OVC080 17/10
A3035 RMK AO2 PK WND 10026/2340 SLP186 60003 T01720100
10228 20156 55003
SPECI KFLG 260042Z 23004KT 1 1/2SM +RA BR SCT012 BKN060 OVC080
15/13 A3039 RMK AO2 RAB38 P0004 T01500133
METAR KFLG 260057Z 03007KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR FEW014 BKN046 OVC060
14/13 A3037 RMK AO2 RAB38 SLP201 P0021 T01440133
SPECI KFLG 260059Z 03008KT 4SM +RA BR FEW014 BKN046 OVC055
14/13 A3037 RMK AO2 P0001 T01440133
METAR KFLG 260157Z 01004KT 4SM BR SCT070 BKN090 14/14 A3037
RMK AO2 RAE18 SLP196 P0005 T01440139

Again, heavy rain (showers) would be a clue for seasoned observers to be aware that lightning could be in the area. In fact, it was:

The above lightning display map is valid for the period 0000Z-0200Z on Aug. 26th UTC, making it late on the 25th local time. One can

see that 5 lightning bolts that struck within 5 miles, were not recorded. An additional 8 strikes between 5 and 10 miles, were not

mentioned in any of the observations above. The lightning was close enough, that it should have been seen, with its corresponding thunder

heard:

Somehow, thunder from lightning within 2 miles of KFLG, wasn’t heard by the LAWRS observers. That was a missed thunderstorm.

314. Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport, Florida, 26 Aug 2015:

At Ft. Lauderdale Executive (KFXE), the same pattern was repeated: heavy rain fell, but thunder was not recorded:

The lightning map above had only a 15-minute valid time, from 1825Z-1840Z. There are 3 SPECIs from KFXE overlaid upon the bottom

of the map. None of those SPECIs contained thunderstorm in present weather. Nor did any of them contain remarks indicating any

lightning activity. Yet, the lightning map showed 7 bolts had struck within the red 5-mile range ring around KFXE. Let’s zoom in:

Certainly, that lightning was close enough, that the thunder should have been heard. Somehow, thunderstorm was not reported that

hour at KFXE, when it should have been!

These animated lightning maps, from Weather Tap, shows how much lightning was in south Florida at that time; and are also relevant

to the next case:


315. North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida, 26 Aug 2015:

Not far from Ft. Lauderdale, there was another LAWRS site which had lighting issues that day: North Perry Airport (KHWO). The lightning

display map around Hollywood, revealed this:

The valid time of the map, is from 1810Z-2000Z. I set it to begin at 1810Z, because the SPECI at 1817Z mentioned that a thunderstorm had

ended at 1811Z. Such a thunderstorm could not have produced any additional observed lightning after 1757Z (the TS times of TSB1759E11

were not correct, as a TSB1759 could not end until H+14). In any event, the thunderstorm was ended much too soon, as none of the lightning

on the above map, was actually reported! That includes all 78 of the lightning bolts that struck within the same block grid where North Perry

Airport is located! Some of that lightning was outside 5 miles, but all of it was within 10 miles. Zooming in, the problem becomes even more

evident:

That map has the same hour and 50 minute valid time. But how does that much nearby lightning, go unreported? Remember that one METAR

was missing, and the other did not record any lightning data, within that 1:50 hour period. There’s just no record of the lightning on the 3 maps

above, ever being reported. The 3 maps include the second Weather Tap lightning animation from case #314, valid 1900-2030Z on the 26th.

316. Great Falls, Montana, 29 Aug 2015:

While this case centers on only 2 lightning strikes, it merits addition to the queue, as it resulted from an error in observing. Firstly, here is the

lightning display around Great Falls (KGTF) from 29/2300Z-30/0000Z:

There was not a lot of nearby lightning around Great Falls; but there was enough that at least a 15-minute TS and/or VCTS should have

been reported. Instead, the LAWRS observer misreported the thunderstorm. How? By indicating that there was lightning striking the

ground 5-10 miles away, without placing TS in present weather. Since VCTS is used only by automated stations, the appropriate report

in present weather should have been TS; with TS VC [LOC] in remarks. But all users got- and this may not have even made it onto the

ATIS- was LTG CG VC in remarks.

Now, here is why else this is an important case: severe thunderstorm criteria was met! Looking at the SPECI, we find that the winds were

27012G45KT. 45 knots winds are bad enough; but the peak wind remark read PK WND 26051/2315 . Here was the report before that SPECI:

METAR KGTF 292253Z 23008KT 10SM CLR 32/04 A2973 RMK AO2 SLP024
T03170044

So while 23008KT 10SM CLR was on the ATIS, a thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 51 knots! That wind gust was not reported

to users until 10 minutes after it happened! I daresay a contract weather observer would have taken a SPECI shortly after 2315Z, based on

this clause in the 7900.5C :

But which came first: the lightning, or the gust to 51 knots? Lightning data indicates that the 2 bolts within 5 miles, both struck before 2315Z:

Based on the above map, which has a valid time of 2300Z-2315Z, the older bolt could have been reported in a VCTS SPECI, before the gust to

51 knots hit the airport. But there was no such report. LAWRS at Great Falls missed reporting a severe thunderstorm on August 29th!

317: St. Lucie County International Airport, Ft. Pierce, Florida, 30 Aug 2015:

Ft. Pierce (KFPR) had 2 heavy rain showers pass over the airport, between 1500Z and 1700Z on the 30th:

METAR KFPR 301453Z 15010KT 3SM -RA BR FEW020 BKN031 OVC070
28/26 A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 19026/1443 SLP164 P0019
60020 T02830261 51012
SPECI KFPR 301516Z 13021G25KT 10SM BKN023 BKN029 OVC075 28/26
A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 14026/1516 RAE1459 P0000
T02830256
SPECI KFPR 301524Z 17014G27KT 1 3/4SM +RA SCT023 BKN035 OVC060
27/24 A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 15027/1518 VIS 1V5
RAE1459B18 P0009 T02670239
SPECI KFPR 301534Z 20006KT 2SM -RA BR BKN023 OVC065 27/24
A3001 RMK AO2 PK WND 15027/1518 RAE1459B18 P0015
T02670244
METAR KFPR 301553Z 19006KT 2SM -RA BR BKN023 OVC065 27/25
A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 19028/1542 RAE1459B18 SLP164
P0020 T02720250
SPECI KFPR 301600Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW025 BKN050 OVC085 28/26
A3002 RMK AO2 RAE1558 P0000 T02780256
SPECI KFPR 301611Z 12015G23KT 1 3/4SM +RA SCT027 BKN036 OVC085
28/25 A3002 RMK AO2 RAE1558B08 P0009 T02780250
SPECI KFPR 301619Z 17017G30KT 4SM -RA SCT027 BKN037 OVC075
28/24 A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 13030/1616 RAE1558B08
P0009 T02780244
SPECI KFPR 301637Z 19008G21KT 2 1/2SM +RA BR BKN027 BKN035
OVC060 26/23 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 13030/1616 VIS
1 1/2V5 RAE1558B08 P0018 T02560233
SPECI KFPR 301643Z 18007KT 3SM -RA BR SCT027 BKN037 OVC055
26/24 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 13030/1616 RAE1558B08
P0018 T02560239
METAR KFPR 301653Z 17012G21KT 3SM -RA BR SCT027 BKN039 OVC070
26/24 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 13030/1616 RAE1558B08
SLP167 P0022 T02610244

So while there were 8 SPECI taken during those 2 hours, there were no SPECIs taken to begin a thunderstorm. Neither was there any

lightning mentioned on any of those METARs or SPECIs, not even in remarks. There should have been:

The map above is valid for the 2-hour period from 1500Z-1700Z on the 30th. It shows 22 lightning bolts struck within the red 5-mile

range ring around KFPR. Yet, no TS was recorded. More lightning met VCTS criteria as well. But despite the nearness of some of that

lightning, no thunderstorm was mentioned:

Florida has both a lot of lightning, but also a lot of thunderstorms that go unreported at LAWRS sites.

326. Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio, 3 (4) Sep 2015:

Burke Lakefront Airport (KBKL) had its ASOS put into AUTO mode, but then signed back on to ASOS in time for some heavy rain:

METAR KBKL 040153Z 35004KT 10SM CLR 25/21 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP139
T02500206
METAR KBKL 040253Z AUTO 26017KT 10SM BKN060 22/19 A2999 RMK
AO2 SLP152 T02220189 53022 TSNO
METAR KBKL 040353Z AUTO 22011KT 10SM -RA SCT055 BKN095 BKN120
22/20 A3000 RMK AO2 RAB14 SLP154 P0002 T02220200
TSNO
SPECI KBKL 040423Z 23008KT 2SM +RA BR BKN037 OVC055 21/19
A3001 RMK AO2 P0028 T02060189
SPECI KBKL 040436Z 19007KT 6SM RA BR SCT040 BKN055 OVC085
21/19 A3000 RMK AO2 P0031 T02110189
METAR KBKL 040453Z VRB03KT 8SM -RA FEW065 BKN085 OVC110 21/19
A2998 RMK AO2 SLP149 P0035 T02110189 402890206

What was missing during that time, was any mention of the 8 lightning strikes within 10 miles:

As can be seen above, 2 of those strikes met TS criteria, while the rest met VCTS criteria. Of course, an observer logged on to ASOS

would report all the lightning as TS, as only automated systems report VCTS. However, the automated system was turned off in the

previous hour, as noted by the TSNO remarks. Between 0400Z-0500Z, the closest lightning was just SW of downtown Cleveland:

Why would KBKL sign off ASOS, putting it into both AUTO and TSNO modes? Could it have had anything to do with this?

None of the lightning within the blue 30-mile range ring, was reported as LTG DSNT. That was due to either LAWRS turning off

ALDARS (which this site may not have), or LAWRS not caring to report it by placing ASOS into AUTO mode. Either way, KBKL

missed a thunderstorm that should have been reported.

327. Toledo Express Airport, Ohio, 3 (4) Sep 2015:

Across state, Toledo Express Airport (KTOL) also had a missed thunderstorm:

As can be seen by the reports overlaid upon the map, no thunderstorm appeared in present weather. Nor were there any thunderstorm

nor lightning remarks. That was despite the many lightning bolts that struck within 10 miles. For example, in the grid where KTOL is

located, 37 lightning strikes were recorded between 0300Z and 0400Z. That entire grid lies within 10 miles of Toledo Express Airport.

Some of that lightning was very close to the south end of runway 16/34:

So here is another case when it is hard to tell why ATC did not report so much lightning.

328. Vero Beach, Florida, 4 Sep 2015:

Vero Beach (KVRB) had almost an inch of rain between 1800Z and 1900Z on the 4th:

METAR KVRB 041753Z 06008KT 10SM BKN039 OVC050 31/23 A2997
RMK AO2 SLP147 T03060233 10333 20261 58008
SPECI KVRB 041808Z 33027G33KT 1 1/2SM RA SCT017 BKN032 OVC040
24/21 A2998 RMK AO2 PK WND 33033/1808 RAB04 P0000
T02440211
SPECI KVRB 041812Z 01030G43KT 1/2SM +RA FG FEW011 BKN032
OVC040 23/21 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 03043/1812 WSHFT
1758 RAB04 P0009 T02330211
SPECI KVRB 041815Z 03030G43KT 1/4SM +RA FG SCT009 BKN017
OVC040 23/21 A2998 RMK AO2 PK WND 03043/1812 WSHFT
1758 RAB04 P0031 T02280206
SPECI KVRB 041824Z 07008G42KT 1/2SM +RA FG BKN016 OVC031
23/21 A3000 RMK AO2 PK WND 03043/1812 WSHFT 1758
RAB04 P0079 T02330211
SPECI KVRB 041834Z 07003KT 2SM -RA BKN024 BKN039 OVC095 24/22
A3000 RMK AO2 PK WND 03043/1812 WSHFT 1758 RAB04
P0093 T02440217
SPECI KVRB 041840Z 00000KT 3SM -RA BR SCT020 BKN075 OVC100
24/22 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 03043/1812 WSHFT 1758
RAB04 P0094 T02440222
METAR KVRB 041853Z 00000KT 5SM -RA BR BKN044 BKN095 24/22
A2998 RMK AO2 PK WND 03043/1812 WSHFT 1758 RAB04
SLP151 P0097 T02390217

There was also a wind gust to 43 knots at 1812Z. What those reports didn’t mention, was any lightning. But this was the lightning display

around Vero Beach that hour:

Comparing the colors of the lightning strike plots, to the color scale, most of the lightning struck early in the hour. That matches the onset

of the heavy rain, and the strong wind gust. Since the wind gust to 43 knots occurred at 1812Z, let’s isolate the first 10 minutes of that

hour and zoom in:

Certainly, what was portrayed as a strong rain shower in the official reports, was actually a strong thunderstorm! 6 of those

nearby lightning bolts, struck before 1805Z; meaning that the 1808Z code should have been TSRA, not just RA:

Even the 1753Z METAR, with its lack of a thunderstorm in present weather, was questionable:

METAR KVRB 041753Z 06008KT 10SM BKN039 OVC050 31/23 A2997
RMK AO2 SLP147 T03060233 10333 20261 58008

During that hour, there was a lot of lightning to the north, that went unreported; plus one bolt that struck very close to the airport.

If the lightning represented on the map above had been reported by KVRB, then pilots would have known that a strong wind gust was

possible from those storms. As it was, the winds increased to 33 knots, then to 43 knots, quickly; with no report of thunder.

329. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Mississippi, 5 Sep 2015:

Another airport with thunderstorm lead time issues, was Gulfport-Biloxi Intl (KGPT). The lightning display around Gulfport from 2145Z-2245Z

on the 5th, shows why:

The 2253Z METAR is superimposed upon the map. There was no TSB time in remarks, and the last SPECI before that METAR was at 2232Z.

This means that the first record of thunder at KGPT was at 2253Z. However, the valid time of the map runs from 7 minutes prior to that METAR,

back to an-hour-and-7-minutes prior. That means that none of the lightning on the map above, was reported by KGPT! That included 6 bolts

that struck within 5 miles, and dozens more that struck 5-10 miles away. Some of that lightning, hit just to the west of U.S. Highway 49, across

from the airport:

The lead time in this case, could have been much more than it actually was. Let’s calculate by how much:

The first lightning strike within 5 miles, appears to have occurred at 2214Z. That’s based on the orange color of the lightning position plot,

versus the color scale. Since the first record of thunder was at 2253Z, that made the lead time -39 minutes. In other words, it had been

thundering at KGPT for 39 minutes, before a thunderstorm was recorded. Is that really acceptable?

This Weather Tap animation, shows the lightning that eventually moved into the Gulfport area:


330. Allegheny County Airport, nr Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 5 Sep 2015:

This will be yet another case when heavy rain fell; no thunder was recorded; but lightning data shows thunder should have been recorded.

Allegheny County Airport (KAGC) went from ASOS being in AUTO/TSNO mode, to reporting heavy rain:

METAR KAGC 051953Z AUTO 19008KT 160V230 10SM BKN050 31/13
A3015 RMK AO2 SLP203 T03110133 TSNO
METAR KAGC 052053Z AUTO 18008KT 10SM SCT055 31/14 A3013 RMK
AO2 SLP199 T03060144 58013 TSNO
METAR KAGC 052153Z AUTO 34007G19KT 5SM -RA BKN040 OVC048
23/17 A3017 RMK AO2 PK WND 34027/2136 RAB52 SLP211
P0003 T02280172 TSNO
SPECI KAGC 052220Z VRB05KT 3SM +RA BKN020 OVC046 22/18 A3016
RMK AO2 P0087 T02220178
SPECI KAGC 052240Z 33003KT 3SM -RA SCT025 BKN055 BKN075 23/18
A3016 RMK AO2 P0096 T02280178
METAR KAGC 052253Z 06006KT 10SM FEW060 FEW090 23/17 A3015
RMK AO2 RAE43 SLP206 P0096 T02330172

So while ALDARS won’t record lightning while it is turned off (TSNO); once ASOS was taken out of AUTO mode, lightning wasn’t

recorded either. It should have been:

The map above is valid from 2130Z-2230Z on the 5th. There were 10 lightning strikes that met TS criteria during that 60-minute period;

plus many more strikes that met VCTS criteria. Heavy rain also fell during those 60 minutes, which should have been a clue as to convective

activity. Quite a bit of lightning struck downtown Pittsburgh, but also close to the airport:

Recall that the 2153Z METAR from KAGC, had ASOS in AUTO/TSNO mode. The below map shows that a SPECI to begin a thunderstorm,

should have been taken not long after that METAR:

Yet, no thunderstorm was recorded during that time at KAGC, despite one of the lightning strikes being just west of state highway 885, across from the airport. That was also despite lightning known to be moving through the Pittsburgh area, as shown by this Weather Tap animation:

That goes down as a missed thunderstorm at KAGC.


331. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 5 (6) Sep 2015:

This case will be much like the KAGC case, number 330. Baton Rouge (KBTR) also had ASOS in AUTO/TSNO mode late on the

5th, which was the 6th UTC:

METAR KBTR 060053Z 17009KT 10SM BKN046 OVC055 29/22 A2997
RMK AO2 SLP147 T02890222
METAR KBTR 060153Z AUTO 19004KT 10SM CLR 27/22 A2998 RMK
AO2 SLP152 T02670222 TSNO
SPECI KBTR 060240Z AUTO 07014KT 4SM +RA BKN036 BKN047 OVC060
24/21 A3005 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0220 RAB17 P0003 T02390211
TSNO
SPECI KBTR 060245Z 06011KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR BKN034 BKN047 OVC055
23/22 A3006 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0220 RAB17 P0013 T02330217
METAR KBTR 060253Z 03009KT 1 1/2SM +RA BR OVC034 23/22 A3006
RMK AO2 WSHFT 0220 RAB17 SLP177 P0032 60032 T02280217
53037
SPECI KBTR 060302Z 06009KT 3SM RA BR OVC037 23/22 A3006 RMK
AO2 P0009 T02280217
METAR KBTR 060353Z 26006KT 10SM -RA FEW065 BKN110 23/22 A3000
RMK AO2 PRESFR SLP158 P0027 T02280217

While ASOS was in TSNO mode for only 2 reports, the second report included heavy rain. ATC then signed on to ASOS, and 2 more reports

 included heavy rain. But between 0100Z-0300Z, this was the lightning display around Baton Rouge:

That 3-hour period seems to have produced 2 separate thunderstorms near Baton Rouge. The blue plots, mostly to the south, indicate the

older storm; the orange/red bolts, mostly to the NW-NE, indicate the later storm. Let’s split the 3-hour time period up, and look at just the

first hour:

There was quite a bit of lightning to the south of KBTR, none of which was reported. There wasn’t even a LTG DSNT remark. What about the

other storm?

There was still plenty of lightning between 0300Z and 0400Z. No thunder nor lightning was recorded that hour either.

332. Orlando Executive Airport, 5 Sep 2015:

Keeping with the trend of LAWRS sites reporting heavy rain with no lightning, another such case comes to us from Orlando Executive

Airport (KORL) on 5 Sep. Between 1700Z-1900Z, here was the lightning display around Orlando:

One can see many lightning position plots to the NE-S of KORL. Some of them are hard to see because of their yellow color. According to the

time scale, that would place them closer to 1900Z. Yet, the 1853Z METAR from KORL is superimposed upon the map, and it shows no lightning

nor thunder mentioned. We can make the lightning easier to see, by reducing the time frame to 1820Z-1900Z, and zooming in:

There’s no doubt that lightning should have been reported during that time. Lightning struck just to the north of the airport, as well as

just to the SE. Yet the 1853Z METAR was the only report with any adverse weather, and that was the report of 1 1/4SM +RA . The

previous METAR looked fairly benign:

METAR KORL 051753Z VRB04KT 10SM SCT043 BKN055 BKN065 31/23 A2999

None of the lightning displayed on either map above, was recorded by KORL.

333. South Bend, Indiana, 5 Sep 2015:

South Bend (KSBN) began a thunderstorm at 1532Z:

METAR KSBN 051454Z 30008KT 10SM SCT060 SCT070 24/19 A3016
RMK AO2 PRESRR SLP209 T02440194 53019
SPECI KSBN 051515Z 34017G22KT 7SM R27L/6000VP6000FT -RA SCT025
BKN046 OVC060 22/18 A3021 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1455 RAB12
PRESRR P0000 T02220183
SPECI KSBN 051519Z 34018G26KT 1 1/2SM R27L/3000VP6000FT +RA
BR FEW018 BKN033 OVC055 21/18 A3022 RMK AO2 PK
WND 34026/1516 WSHFT 1455 RAB12 PRESRR P0003 T02060183
SPECI KSBN 051522Z 32016G26KT 3/4SM R27L/2400VP6000FT +RA
BR SCT016 BKN025 OVC046 19/18 A3022 RMK AO2 PK
WND 34026/1516 WSHFT 1455 RAB12 P0011 T01940183
SPECI KSBN 051527Z 31013G24KT 1/2SM R27L/2400V4500FT +RA
FG BKN014 BKN025 OVC042 19/18 A3022 RMK AO2 PK
WND 34026/1516 WSHFT 1455 RAB12 P0035 T01890178
SPECI KSBN 051532Z 30010KT 1/4SM R27L/2800V5500FT +TSRA FG
BKN014 BKN025 OVC033 19/17 A3021 RMK AO2 PK WND
34026/1516 WSHFT 1455 RAB12 TSB32 P0063 T01940172

But prior to that, this was the lightning display around South Bend, ending at 1525Z:

There were over 40 lightning bolts that struck within the red 5-mile range ring, during the 25-minute valid time of the map. All of that

lightning struck before the official beginning of the thunderstorm, by at least 7 minutes! The oldest bolt could have been 32 minutes

before the TS officially began at KSBN. So much of the lightning within 5 miles was so close to the airport, it’s hard to see how it was

missed:

Isolating the time of the nearest, close lightning strike, yields a time of about 1508Z:

That bolt, represented by the red dot and circle to the southwest of the airport; would have struck about 1508Z, according to the color

scale. Given that the official start time of the thunderstorm was 1532Z, the “lead time” for reporting that thunderstorm, was negative

24 minutes in this case. In other words, it had been thundering at KSBN for 24 minutes, before a thunderstorm was reported.

342. Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, 8 Sep 2015:

Cecil Field (KVQQ) had yet another lightning issue on 8 Sep. There were no SPECIs transmitted from KVQQ between 1800Z and 2000Z:

METAR KVQQ 081750Z 15005KT 10SM VCSH BKN028 30/28 A2998
METAR KVQQ 081850Z 12010G15KT 10SM VCSH BKN023 28/25 A2996
METAR KVQQ 081950Z VRB05KT 7SM VCSH SCT020 BKN030 24/24 A2998
METAR KVQQ 082050Z 12005KT 7SM FEW012 24/24 A2996

3 of those METARs recorded showers in the vicinity. But they failed to record this:

The above lightning display map, is valid from 1800Z-2000Z. It shows older strikes in blue/purple; and strikes near the middle of the

period (1900Z) in red. I didn’t bother putting range rings on the map, because of how near many lightning strikes were:

That map is valid for the same 2-hour period. One lightning bolt either hit the NW side of the airport complex, or very close to it. Yet,

none of the lightning on the above map was recorded. The time of the nearest lightning strike, was about 1827Z:

So there should have been intervening SPECIs during that period, to report the start of a thunderstorm (TS). That did not happen.

A Weather Tap lightning animation, shows just how much lightning struck the Jacksonville area, from 1850Z-2020Z:


343. Ben Epps Airport, Athens, Georgia, 9 Sep 2015:

Athens (KAHN) missed reporting 2 thunderstorms in a 6-hour period. The map below is valid for the period 9/1800Z-10/0000Z:

The older lightning strikes are represented by the blue/purple dots. Younger lightning strikes are represented by the orange lightning

position plots, and were clustered to the SW. With all that lightning, what about the METARs and SPECIs?

METAR KAHN 091751Z 00000KT 6SM -RA BR FEW022 BKN040 OVC095
26/24 A2996 RMK AO2 RAB08 SLP139 P0001 60007 T02560239
10278 20233 58010=
SPECI KAHN 091802Z 24004KT 2 1/2SM RA BR FEW019 BKN049 OVC100
25/24 A2996 RMK AO2 P0003 T02500239
SPECI KAHN 091810Z VRB04KT 10SM -RA FEW020 BKN050 OVC100
24/23 A2996 RMK AO2 P0004 T02440233
METAR KAHN 091851Z VRB04KT 10SM FEW033 FEW042 SCT060 28/23
A2994 RMK AO2 RAE30 SLP131 P0004 T02780233
SPECI KAHN 091906Z VRB06KT 1 3/4SM RA BR SCT030 BKN042 BKN065
25/23 A2994 RMK AO2 RAB1858 P0000 T02500233
SPECI KAHN 091914Z VRB03KT 1 1/4SM -RA BR FEW032 BKN047 OVC110
24/23 A2993 RMK AO2 RAB1858 P0008 T02440233
SPECI KAHN 091916Z 00000KT 2 1/2SM -RA BR FEW032 BKN047 OVC110
24/23 A2993 RMK AO2 RAB1858 P0008 T02440233
SPECI KAHN 091923Z 28004KT 10SM FEW032 SCT065 BKN100 25/23
A2992 RMK AO2 RAB1858E23 P0008 T02500233
METAR KAHN 091951Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 26/23 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB1858E23
SLP124 P0008 T02560233
METAR KAHN 092051Z 00000KT 10SM -RA BKN055 27/23 A2991 RMK
AO2 RAB51 SLP121 P0000 60012 T02670233 56018
METAR KAHN 092151Z 00000KT 10SM FEW060 28/23 A2991 RMK AO2
RAE27 SLP120 P0001 T02780228
METAR KAHN 092251Z 09003KT 10SM CLR 26/24 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP120
T02610239
SPECI KAHN 092324Z 25006KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR FEW010 SCT021 BKN034
25/24 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB13 P0003 T02500244
SPECI KAHN 092331Z 00000KT 1 1/4SM +RA BR FEW009 BKN050 OVC100
24/23 A2991 RMK AO2 RAB13 P0008 T02440233
SPECI KAHN 092335Z 00000KT 2SM -RA BR SCT016 BKN048 OVC110
24/23 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB13 P0009 T02440233
SPECI KAHN 092338Z 00000KT 3SM -RA BR FEW009 BKN038 OVC110
24/23 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB13 P0009 T02440233
METAR KAHN 092351Z 31003KT 10SM -RA FEW011 SCT034 BKN070
24/23 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB13 SLP123 P0009 60022 T02390228
10283 20239 53002

So there were 3 rounds of moderate to heavy rain (showers). Between 1845Z and 1910Z, this was the lightning display close to

Ben Epps Airport:

None of the 9 lightning strikes on that map were recorded. The observations at that time should have included –TSRA and TSRA, but didn’t.

The second missed thunderstorm, peaked when it produced a cluster of lightning strikes to the SW of the airport, about 2309Z:

Now, keep in mind what was on the ATIS at that time:

METAR KAHN 092251Z 09003KT 10SM CLR 26/24 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP120 T02610239

It wasn’t until heavy rain set in, dropping the visibility to 1.75 miles, that a SPECI was taken:

SPECI KAHN 092324Z 25006KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR FEW010 SCT021 BKN034
25/24 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB13 P0003 T02500244

The present weather code in that SPECI could have read +TSRA, but did not. If a SPECI had been taken to properly begin a thunderstorm

just after 2309Z, when the cluster of lightning bolts hit to the SW; pilots would have had about 15 minutes worth of lead time for the next

hazard: poor IFR visibility due to heavy rain. As it was, they heard 10SM CLR on the ATIS. But, for the second time that day, ATC at KAHN

didn’t report a thunderstorm, while lightning was within 10 miles.

344. Craven County Regional Airport, New Bern, North Carolina, 9 Sep 2015:

New Bern (KEWN, also known as Coastal Carolina Airport) reported a thunderstorm, beginning as a “thunderstorm in the vicinity” at 1712Z,

and a thunderstorm within 5 miles at 1718Z:

SPECI KEWN 091712Z 15007KT 2SM VCTS RA BR BKN026 BKN034 OVC055
24/23 A3001 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1646 VIS 1V5 LTG DSNT
E P0033 T02440233
SPECI KEWN 091718Z 20004KT 4SM -TSRA BR SCT024 BKN055 OVC110
25/23 A3001 RMK AO2 WSHFT 1646 LTG DSNT E TSB18
P0033 T02500233

The problem was, that there was enough lightning around New Bern during the previous hour, that a thunderstorm should have been

reported:

The lightning map above is valid for the hour of 1600Z-1700Z. So what did KEWN report, before the VCTS and TS set in?

METAR KEWN 091554Z 27006KT 10SM FEW032 SCT044 BKN070 30/23
A3001 RMK AO2 SLP163 T03000233
SPECI KEWN 091650Z 18014G20KT 2 1/2SM -RA SCT024 BKN033 OVC090
26/23 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB38 P0006
METAR KEWN 091654Z 17014G20KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR SCT024 BKN031
OVC090 24/22 A3002 RMK AO2 VIS 1V5 RAB38 SLP166
P0009 T02440222

So there had been heavy rain, causing IFR visibility, just before and right at the 1654Z METAR. But, no report of lightning was included,

despite that most of the lightning was within 10 miles; much of it within 5 miles, and near to the airport:

The lead time could have been greater in this case. As it stands, it was at least -12 minutes. But if the time on the lightning map is set to

end at 1635Z, 2 lightning bolts in yellow, appear to the south of KEWN on the map:

So a thunderstorm began no later than 1635Z at KEWN; yet was not reported as even VCTS until 1712Z. That yields a lead time of

-37 minutes. The lead time for “lightning within 5 miles” would be -43 minutes. In other words, it had been thundering at KEWN

for 37 minutes, before a thunderstorm was reported.

345. Tompkins Regional Airport, Ithaca, New York, 9 Sep 2015:

Tompkins Regional (KITH) near Ithaca, had some nearby lightning between 1800Z-1900Z on the 9th:

But the reports from KITH, were as such:

METAR KITH 091756Z 25011G19KT 10SM BKN060 32/17 A2985 RMK
AO2 56023 T03160166 10327 20233 SLP098
SPECI KITH 091826Z 31024G33KT 9SM -RA SCT022 BKN060 30/21
A2990 RMK AO2 RAB25 P0000 WSHFT 1812 PK WND 31033/1820
PRESRR
SPECI KITH 091831Z 31019G33KT 6SM -RA SCT006 BKN022 BKN060
27/22 A2992 RMK AO2 RAB25 P0000 WSHFT 1812 PK
WND 31033/1820 PRESRR
SPECI KITH 091841Z 33018G22KT 1 1/2SM R32/3000VP6000FT +RA
BR FEW008 BKN022 22/19 A2990 RMK AO2 RAB25 P0020
WSHFT 1812 PK WND 31033/1820
METAR KITH 091856Z 32009G18KT 6SM BR SCT011 BKN035 20/19
A2991 RMK AO2 T02000188 RAB25E56 P0022 WSHFT 1812
PK WND 31033/1820 SLP123

Heavy rain fell, the visibility and RVR were poor; and a wind gust to 33 knots was recorded at the airport. Yet, there was no mention of

lightning nor thunder. But on the map above, there were 2 lightning bolts that met TS criteria, and an additional 5 strikes that met VCTS

criteria. A thunderstorm went unreported that hour at Ithaca.

346. Smyrna, Tennessee, 9 Sep 2015:

This will be similar to case #344 from New Bern. Smyrna (KMQY) did report a thunderstorm on the 9th:

SPECI KMQY 092049Z 35014G18KT 10SM TS BKN050CB 26/21 A2987
RMK AO2 OCNL LTGCCCGIC TS NW MOV E TSB47

The trouble was, a thunderstorm was not reported until 2047Z. Yet, between 1700Z and 1900Z, this was the lightning display around Smyrna:

2 separate thunderstorms can be detected. The purplish dots represent lightning that struck during the first hour; the yellow dots represent

lightning that struck near the end of the second hour. Yet, here were the reports from Smyrna during that time:

METAR KMQY 091656Z 18007KT 150V220 10SM BKN034 BKN042 34/21
A2994 RMK AO2 T03380211 BKN V SCT SLP142
METAR KMQY 091756Z 04007KT 10SM BKN040 BKN050 28/22 A2992
RMK AO2 58017 T00000000 10350 20227 SLP135
METAR KMQY 091856Z 08012KT 10SM SCT038 27/22 A2989 RMK AO2
T00000000 SLP125
METAR KMQY 091956Z 12007KT 10SM SCT047 31/21 A2986 RMK AO2
T00000000 SLP115

A pilot or other user wouldn’t have a clue, from the official reports alone, that lightning was within both 5 and 10 miles. But there were

lightning strikes fairly close to the airport:

The closest bolt from the first storm hit to the NW on US Highway 70S in La Vergne; the second storm produced a strike between the lake

and the airport. Still, users had to wait until 2047Z for this LAWRS site to report lightning or thunder.

347. Bob Hope Airport, Burbank, California, 9 Sep 2015:

2 new sites are added to the project from southern California, due to thunderstorms that erupted when Pacific Hurricane Linda pushed tropical

air out ahead of it, into the region. The first comes from Bob Hope Airport in Burbank (KBUR). Much like the case from Smyrna, pilots and other

users would have thought there were no weather issues nearby, by just looking at the METARs:

METAR KBUR 091853Z 22005KT 10SM CLR 38/15 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP084
T03780150
METAR KBUR 091953Z 20010KT 10SM CLR 38/15 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP078
T03830150
METAR KBUR 092053Z 19009KT 10SM CLR 38/15 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP076
T03830150 56013
METAR KBUR 092153Z 21010KT 10SM CLR 38/15 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP071
T03830150

Yet, here was the lightning display around Burbank, from 1900Z-2100Z on the 9th:

One can see that 5 lightning bolts met VCTS criteria, by striking within the green 10-mile range ring. There was also 1 lightning bolt that

met TS criteria, by striking within the red 5-mile range ring. But clear skies with no mention of lightning, was all that was reported from

KBUR during the valid time of the above map.

348. William J. Fox Airport, Lancaster, California, 9 Sep 2015:

The same tropical airmass that produced the storms near Burbank, also affected the high desert location of Lancaster (KWJF). Between 2100Z

and 2200Z, here was the lightning activity around William J. Fox Airport:

There was plenty of distant lightning; but also 4 lightning strikes within 10 miles. Were those reported? No:

METAR KWJF 092056Z 21012KT 10SM CLR 34/13 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP107
T03440128 56016
METAR KWJF 092156Z 22011KT 10SM CLR 35/11 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP105
T03500106
SPECI KWJF 092228Z 30015G24KT 10SM FEW055 BKN110 33/12 A2993
RMK AO2 WSHFT 2208 T03280117

So like Burbank, pilots and other users received 10SM CLR as the visibility and sky condition (until the wind shift SPECI), with no mention of

lightning. That was despite the nearness of 4 lightning strikes:

One lightning bolt struck the airport! Somehow, it was ignored and wasn’t reported. Isolating the time of occurrence, yields a time of about 2151Z:

Now, here are radar images of the area, taken at 2127Z and 2158Z.

Lancaster is near Palmdale, just to its north. On the radar maps, Palmdale is located at the crosshairs or plus sign NE of the letter “e”. What

was to the north of that location? A thunderstorm cell, at least level 3. That’s right about where Lancaster is, and right about where the

lightning bolts struck. Yet, ASOS reported clear skies just 5 minutes after lighting struck the airport! The problem was, since the temperature/

dew point were 95/52, the base of the storm would have been in the mid-levels; a convective cloud height diagram would yield a height of

10,000 feet for a 43-degree spread. If the cloud base was just a bit higher, ASOS wouldn’t report it; apparently that’s what happened. But we

can’t discern how lightning could strike a LAWRS site at 2:51 PDT on a Wednesday, and go unreported!

349. La Crosse, Wisconsin, 10 Sep 2015:

La Crosse (KLSE) had case #1 in this lightning project. On 10 Sep, here was the lightning display around La Crosse between 0400Z-0600Z:

There were 3 lightning strikes that met TS or VCTS criteria. According to the NWS AMSS web site, ALDARS was enabled at KLSE on

20 Jun 2000. Yet, lightning within 10 miles was not reported during those 2 hours:

METAR KLSE 100353Z AUTO 14006KT 10SM FEW085 SCT110 18/14
A2990 RMK AO2 SLP118 T01780144
METAR KLSE 100453Z AUTO 18012KT 10SM -RA FEW090 BKN110 19/16
A2988 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW AND NW RAB44 SLP109
P0000 T01940156
SPECI KLSE 100516Z AUTO 22012G24KT 3SM +RA SCT049 BKN065
OVC110 18/15 A2991 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0456 LTG DSNT
NE AND S P0006 T01830150
METAR KLSE 100553Z AUTO 17006KT 10SM SCT045 OVC095 18/16
A2990 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0456 LTG DSNT E-S RAE44 SLP118
P0012 60012 T01780161 10228 20172 402670128 53001

Lightning striking between 10-30 miles from the airport, was captured by ALDARS and recorded. But just before the heavy rain was reported

at 0516Z, the closest lightning bolt struck:

The map above is valid from 0505-0510Z, with the bolt striking about 0509Z. Therefore, a thunderstorm (TS) should have been reported from

at least 0510-0525Z (giving ASOS 1 minute to transmit such a report). The 0516Z SPECI should have read 3SM +TSRA, but omitted the lightning.

In this case, ALDARS worked in the opposite way one would hope; it detected lightning beyond 10 miles, but failed to detect lightning within 10 miles.