DESERT STORM WEATHER 17 JANUARY-2 MARCH 1991

File: aabva_76.txt
Page: 76
Total Pages: 106
DESERT STORM                                        19 February 1991

General Weather.  A low-pressure area developed over Syria and
moved eastward into northwestern Iraq. A secondary low
developed in northwestern Saudi Arabia and moved eastward into
northern Saudi Arabia. Two lines of strong thunderstorms--one
over northern Saudi Arabia, one over Iraq--developed between
1500 and 1800Z and continued well into the next day--see Figure
3-36.

Area of Interest.  Scattered low clouds over western Iraq and
northern Saudi Arabia early in the day were from 3,000 to 5,000
feet--see Figure 3-37.  Thin high clouds moved in that afternoon.
Thunderstorm bases were at 3,000 feet, tops to 35,000 feet.  Rain
and rainshowers began after 1500Z. In Central Saudi Arabia,
scattered to broken low and middle clouds, with bases at 4,000 and
10,000 feet produced scattered evening rainshowers.

Area of Intense Interest. Cloud cover in the first 6 hours was
limited to southeastern Iraq and Kuwait where skies were scattered
at 3,000 to 5,000 feet and thin broken from 20,000 to 25,000 feet.
After these had cleared out in the afternoon, a new high thin broken
layer at 22,000 to 25,000 feet moved in.  Convective activity from
the west entered the area at about 1800Z producing bases that
were generally 3,000 feet, but as low as 1,000 feet in
thunderstorms; tops were to 35,000 feet Convective cells
consolidated to form a nearly solid, north-south line in central Iraq
as another, similar line formed in northern Saudi Arabia.  Middle
cloud ceilings outside showers were at 10,000 feet.

Thunderstorms produced localized moderate to heavy rain after
1800Z.  Light rain and rainshowers fell outside the areas of strong
convection.

Winds were east-southeasterly at 5-10 knots during the first half of
the day, increasing to 15-20 knots by afternoon.  Isolated gusts to
30 knots occurred with thunderstorms.

Visibilities were less than 1,000 meters in rain associated with
thunderstorms, but 7 and 9 km elsewhere in rainshowers, black
smoke from Kuwait, fog, and/or blowing dust.

High temperatures were 19-21(C; lows, 7-11(C.



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