Operational usage of KONRAD3D, DWD’s scheme for detection, tracking, and nowcasting of convective cells

After several years of development and evaluation, KONRAD3D, the new tool for detection, tracking, and nowcasting of convective cells at Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), reaches operational status. The scheme is intended to further improve the performance of DWD’s automated warning decision support system and to equip external customers with improved information on thunderstorm development and severe weather risks.

KONRAD3D essentially relies on 3D radar reflectivity data, but also regards lightning data as well as hydrometeor information from DWD-products based on dual-polarization radar algorithms to assess hail risk. It is planned to integrate further data sources and products, e.g., rotation information derived from radial velocity measurements and mesocyclone detection outputs.

During the past three convective seasons, KONRAD3D has been intensively evaluated by forecasters at DWD as well as in the ESSL (European Severe Storms Laboratory) Testbed with many valuable comments and suggestions on how to modify, improve or better tune the method. Inspired by these findings, various extensions have been implemented, sub-algorithms have been revised, and tuning parameters have been adapted.

This work gives an overview on the status of KONRAD3D’s design and setup at operational kick-off. We present the current status of its visualization in DWD’s meteorological workstation NinJo and illustrate how KONRAD3D is integrated in follow-up applications and end customer interfaces.