ALBERTA HAIL SUPPRESSION PROJECT 2011

DAILY SUMMARY REPORTS

WEEK No.1
Date
June 01,
Wednesday

Weather
A deep upper level trough was positioned over the Pacific
Northwest. Southwesterly upper level jet energy was
concentrated over southern AB. Several potent
shortwave troughs passed through the project area, and
the atmosphere was moderately unstable. The region
saw low freezing levels along with excellent speed shear.

Activities Summary
No aircraft operations, awaiting clearance to fly
from Transport Canada. Work continued on the
radar. Adjustments were made to the radar
display and TITAN programming.

Weak echoes began to form over Banff and Canmore

during the early morning hours. Then, during the
afternoon hours, stronger cells developed W of Sundre
and moved from W to E across the project area. In the
evening, another band of moderate convection moved
over Rocky MH.
Max titan cell= 11.0 km top, 62 max dBz, 64.0 max VIL
Tmax YC = 16.6C and 3.4mm of rain.
Tmax QF = 17.0C and no data.
Tmax Radar = 16.3C and 31.5mm of rain.
June 02,
Thursday

The trough over the Pacific Northwest moved E which

helped push a few shortwaves through central AB. The
atmosphere was moderately unstable with weak shear.
Positive vorticity advection was the main trigger
mechanism.
Cumulus clouds started forming over the mountains in the
morning. Slightly better convection began to form in the
early afternoon but remained outside of the project area.
Then around 00z, a few cells began to make their way off
the foothills and into the project area. A cluster of
convection formed over the Calgary metropolitan area
during the early evening hours. The strongest storms of
the day formed NW of Sundre and north of Rocky MH.
Moderately strong convection was observed through the
late evening hours.
Max titan cell= 9.1 km top, 60 max dBz, 41.4 max VIL
Tmax YC = 17.0C and no rain.
Tmax QF = 19.0C and no rain.
Tmax Radar = 17.6C and a trace of rain.

The radar software parameters and settings

were adjusted and updated.
HS3 and HS4 preformed a ferry flight from YYC
to YQF and each aircraft tested the seeding
equipment. All equipment functioned properly.
HS1 patrolled north of Calgary. They fired 1BIP
and 2 EJ to test the seeding equipment which
functioned properly.
HS2 flew a patrol flight northwest of Calgary.
Pilots encountered data logger problems, and
landed at the Olds-Didsbury airport to
troubleshoot. The aircraft then performed a
ferry flight from the Olds-Didsbury airport to
YYC.
HS1 was launched to a growing cell over
northern YYC at 0042Z (06/03). The flight was
airborne at 0107Z and began patrolling over
northern YYC. At 0129Z HS1 report embedded
conditions with no liquid water while patrolling N
of Cochrane. HS1 eventually found liquid water
NW of Sundre and started seeding at 0144Z.
The flight only seeded for a short period of time
before returning to patrol. HS1 then RTB at
0211Z.
HS2 performed a patrol flight over northern
YYC. The aircraft was launched at 0047Z
(06/03). Pilots reported only minimal inflow and
growth over YYC, so the aircraft just patrolled
the area. The flight RTB at 0147Z.
Flight Summary

June 03,
Friday

A cold front moved south through the area, slowing down

and stalling as the day went on. The atmosphere was
slightly unstable with low freezing levels. The sounding
was marginal for hail.
Weak thunderstorms began after 19z, forming off the
foothills and moving into the project area. The storms had
high reflectivity and VIL during their maturing stage, but
quickly weakened and became embedded. Another round
of strong thunderstorms began around 0030Z (06/04) as
frontal passage occurred over the region. These storms
also pulsed down after a short period of time. As cool
temperatures set in, stratiform rain developed overnight.
Max titan cell= 9.9 km top, 58 max dBz, 41.1 max VIL
Tmax YC = 17.8C and 1.0 mm of rain.
Tmax QF = 14.2C and 1.4 mm of rain.
Tmax Radar = 14.6C and 0.7 mm or rain.

HS3: 2000-2037Z; 1 BIP, 3 EJ, ferry flight.

HS4: 2001-2047Z; 1 BIP, 1 EJ, ferry flight.
HS1: 2112-2230Z; 1 BIP, 2 EJ, patrol Airdrie.
HS2: 2142-2230Z; no seeding, patrol
Cochrane.
HS2: 0005 (06/03)-0044Z (06/03); 1 BIP, 2 EJ,
ferry flight.
HS1: 0050 (06/03)-0230Z (06/03); 2 EJ;
patrolled N of Cochrane and NW of Sundre,
Storm #1 NW of Sundre.
HS2: 0053 (06/03)-0200 (06/03); no seeding;
patrolled near Airdrie.
HS2 was launched at 1846Z to patrol cells near
YYC, and also to test Airlink. At 1907Z, HS2
was airborne, and reported bases around
8.0kft, rain, and poorly defined bases. At
1934Z, HS2 began seeding over southern YYC
after encountering marginal inflow. At 1955Z,
HS2 began seeding the northern end of the
storm. As the storm began to weaken, HS2
was directed to a cluster of storms to the NW at
2008Z. Bases were 7.0kft and more defined on
this storm. HS2 continued to seed the storm
until 2045Z, when they had to move further NW
as directed by ATC. HS2 then attempted to find
inflow along the line headed for Calgary, but the
line dissipated so at 2124Z HS2 RTB.
At 2247Z, HS1 launched for Olds for Airlink
testing. They were airborne at 2308Z, and RTB
to YYC after Airlink continued to encounter
problems.
At 0012Z, HS1 and HS2 were launched SW of
Calgary. HS1 was directed to top at 15kft, HS2
to 7.5kft. HS1 was airborne at 0031Z (06/04)
and W for the cell NW of Okotoks. Bases were
observed at 5.5kft. HS2 was airborne at 0032Z
for the same cell. Due to the low bases and
proximity to the foothills, HS2 RTB at 0049Z.
The cells quickly dissipated well below hail
criteria, and HS1 RTB at 0111Z.
Flight Summary
HS2: 1855-2145Z; 116 min acetone generator
time; #1 over YYC and #2 NW of YYC.
HS1: 2253-2339Z; no seeding, Airlink testing.
HS2: 0016 (06/04)-0105Z (06/04); no seeding;
patrol NW of Okotoks.
HS1: 0018 (06/04)-0126Z (06/04); no seeding;
patrol NW of Okotoks.

June 04,
Saturday

A cold front was positioned over southern Alberta. The

area was experiencing weak cold advection aloft. The
atmosphere was slightly unstable for most of the day.
Southern Alberta saw clearing early in the day. No upper
level triggers were present but a quasistationary warm
front was draped over the northeastern part of the region
overnight.
Mist and light rain showers fell in the morning. The
stratiform cloud cover thinned out during the afternoon.

No aircraft operations.

Cumulus clouds were observed during the late afternoon

hours. Weak convection was present over the YQF area
during the evening. The strongest cells of the day moved
through near Lacombe around 10z. Small hail was
reported near Lacombe.
Max titan cell= 8.4 km top, 64 max dBz, 43.2 max VIL
Tmax YC = 17.0C and 1.0 mm of rain.
Tmax QF = 14.9C and 1.0 mm of rain
Tmax Radar = 16.5C and 0.5 mm of rain.