In-cloud characteristics observed in northeastern and midwestern US non-orographic winter storms with implications for ice particle mass growth and residence time

Allen, Luke R.; Yuter, Sandra E.; Crowe, Declan M.; Miller, Matthew A.; Thornhill, K. Lee

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6679-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 13

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6679-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6679-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 25, issue 13

Research article

|

02 Jul 2025

Research article |

| 02 Jul 2025

In-cloud characteristics observed in northeastern and midwestern US non-orographic winter storms with implications for ice particle mass growth and residence time

Luke R. Allen, Sandra E. Yuter, Declan M. Crowe, Matthew A. Miller, and K. Lee Thornhill

Data sets

Data for the figures in "In-cloud characteristics observed in US Northeast and Midwest non-orographic winter storms with implications for ice particle mass growth and residence time" Luke R. Allen et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15051888

Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) Collection L. A. McMurdie et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/DATA101

PLOWS: Navigation, State Parameter, and Microphysics Low Rate (LRT - 1 sps) Flight-Level Data. Version 1.0 UCAR/NCAR - Earth Observing Laboratory https://doi.org/10.5065/D6HX1B1V

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6

ERA5 hourly data on single levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.adbb2d47

Short summary

We analyzed in-cloud characteristics using in situ measurements from 42 research flights across two field campaigns into non-orographic, non-lake-effect winter storms. Much of the storm volume contains weak vertical motions (a few centimeters per second), and most updrafts ≥ 0.5 m s^-1 are small (< 1 km). Within 2 km of cloud radar echo top, stronger vertical motions and conditions for ice particle growth are more common. Overturning air motions near cloud top appear important for the production of snow particles.