The Storm Cell Identification and Tracking Algorithm: An Enhanced WSR-88D Algorithm

TLDR

Accurate storm identification and tracking are essential for radar and severe weather warning operations, and improved performance could enable more accurate tracking. The paper presents the SCIT algorithm, a centroid‑based storm identification and tracking method designed to improve storm detection for both isolated and clustered storms. SCIT was incorporated into WSR‑88D Build 9.0 of the Radar Products Generator in late 1996–early 1997, employing centroid tracking and enhanced storm‑identification techniques. In a study of 6,561 storm cells, SCIT correctly identified 68 % of cells with >40 dBZ and 96 % with >50 dBZ, outperforming the original WSR‑88D algorithm (24 % and 41 %) and correctly tracking over 90 % of all cells, as detailed in the performance evaluation.

Abstract

Accurate storm identification and tracking are basic and essential parts of radar and severe weather warning operations in today’s operational meteorological community. Improvements over the original WSR-88D storm series algorithm have been made with the Storm Cell Identification and Tracking algorithm (SCIT). This paper discusses the SCIT algorithm, a centroid tracking algorithm with improved methods of identifying storms (both isolated and clustered or line storms). In an analysis of 6561 storm cells, the SCIT algorithm correctly identified 68% of all cells with maximum reflectivities over 40 dBZ and 96% of all cells with maximum reflectivities of 50 dBZ or greater. The WSR-88D storm series algorithm performed at 24% and 41%, respectively, for the same dataset. With better identification performance, the potential exists for better and more accurate tracking information. The SCIT algorithm tracked greater than 90% of all storm cells correctly. The algorithm techniques and results of a detailed performance evaluation are presented. This algorithm was included in the WSR-88D Build 9.0 of the Radar Products Generator software during late 1996 and early 1997. It is hoped that this paper will give new users of the algorithm sufficient background information to use the algorithm with confidence.