MSG IR10.8 imagery with significant weather: time sequence

9th June 2004: 00UTC
This image shows the IR-image combined with surface observations and wind barbs. Blue areas: Cloud top temperature below -65°C (i.e. tropoause’s temperature). We see a high extending cloud cluster at 55°N and 5°E. Due to the coarse network we find only one report of light rain and one of sheet lightning.

9th June 2004: 01UTC
The super cell together with very the high clouds (blue) moved to the east. One report about thunderstorm and sheet lightning can be found

9th June 2004: 02UTC
The super cell moved further to the East. And arrived Northwest Germany / Denmark.

9th June 2004: 03UTC
The super cell achieved its maximum intensity. Many thunderstorms were observed mainly over Northern and Northwest Germany

9th June 2004: 04UTC
Many thunderstorms and a special circulation can be found over the western parts of Schleswig-Holstein.

9th June 2004: 05UTC
From that image we see that the thunderstorm activity is not concentrated at the frontal edge of a super cell. Normaly, we find it near the centre. At the colder site (to the Northeast) prevailing stratiform precipiation happened. Again, the special cyclonic circulation around the super cell can be seen.

9th June 2004: 06UTC
The super cell achieved in the meanwhile a diameter of almost 300 kilometres. Many parts of Northern Germany are influenced by thunderstorms (one severe). A splitting into two parts started.

9th June 2004: 07UTC
In this image we see a typical example of cell splitting. Typically, the right part (looking into the direction of the streaming) moved more slowly and intensifies whereas the left part weakens during its faster displacement. Many parts of North Germany are covered by thunderstorms. Over the eastern parts of Denmark we find rain. The cyclonic rotation around the centre of the super cell can be seen rather clearly.

9th June 2004: 08UTC
The whole complex started weakening after the right part achieved its maximum intensity. However, many thunderstorms were still observed.

9th June 2004: 09UTC
The image reveals cloud tops below the tropopause (i.e., cloud top temperatures above -65°C). However, many thunderstorms developed over the eastern parts of Germany.