Graphical Abstract

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Suzuki, S.-I., T. Maesaka, K. Iwanami, S. Shimizu, and K. Kieda, 2018: X-band dual-polarization radar observations of the supercell storm that generated an F3 tornado on 6 May 2012 in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 96A, 25-33.
https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2017-019   Graphical Abstract with highlights

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Highlights:

• X-band dual-polarization (multi-parameter) radars were used to observe a supercell storm that generated an F3 tornado in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan on 6 May 2012. The observed data collected for this storm clearly exhibited the typical polarimetric features of a supercell storm, such as the Z_DR (differential reflectivity) arc, Z_DR column, and the K_DP (specific differential phase) column, as well as their time evolution.
• The Z_DR arc emerged at 10 to 15 min before the tornadogenesis. The Z_DR column appeared approximately 1 h before the formation of the Z_DR arc and was intermittent until tornadogenesis. As the Z_DR arc appeared, the column became tall and stable and lasted until the dissipation of the tornado. These Z_DR signatures of the supercell storm persisted for approximately half an hour.