Polarimetric radar observations of the Jersey tornadic supercell on 1–2 November 2023

Abstract

A large tornado and severe hailstorm struck Jersey, Channel Islands, just before midnight on 1–2 November 2023. Radar data are analysed to explore the morphology of the parent supercell thunderstorm. A tornado debris cloud was evident in polarimetric fields, collocated with a reflectivity ‘debris ball’. The debris cloud comprised a small region of exceptionally low correlation coefficient (<0.8) collocated with differential reflectivity ≤0dB. In vertical section, the debris signature comprised a column of low correlation coefficient and high reflectivity that tilted north‐northeast with height and extended to at least 2km above ground level.