Automated Data Plotter

This application dynamically generates many types of graphs derived from various IEM data sources. Feel free to use these generated graphics in whatever way you wish.

Reset App IEM Explorer (Simplified)

1 Select a Chart Type

Choose from available chart types:

NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT) Tornado Tracks + Lead Time (#253)

2 Configure Chart Options

Select Date + Tornado Track to plot:

(YYYY/mm/dd)

Color Ramp:

gist_rainbow

Reverse Colormap?

Image Pixel Size @100 DPI

Image Resolution (DPI) (50 to 500)

Select Output Format:

Plot Description:

This autoplot combines NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT) tornado tracks (lines) with Tornado Warning (polygons) to provide along track estimates of lead time. This is all unofficial, of course, and makes assumptions about constant travel speed of the tornado along the track. The lead time is evaluated at 1 minute intervals and follows a method found in: Stumpf 2024: A Geospatial Verification Method for Severe Convective Weather Warnings: Implications for Current and Future Warning Methods. Points receiving a warning after observation are assigned a negative lead time. Points receiving no warning are assigned a no lead time and not considered in the lead time average.

The data download option will provide the discritized points along the tornado track with the lead time in minutes.

3 Generated Chart

CSV Data Excel Download

If you notice plotting issues with the image above, please contact us and provide the URL address currently shown by your web browser.

IEM Daily Features using this plot

The IEM Daily Features found on this website often utilize plots found on this application. Here is a listing of features referencing this plot type.

24 May 2024: Greenfield Tornado
23 May 2024: Polk-Story Tornado