Summary

TORUS-LItE (Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells - Left-flank Intensive Experiment) is a nomadic field campaign during the spring storm season of 2023 over a domain covering much of the central United Stats where there exists significant point probabilities of tornado-bearing supercell storms. TORUS aims to use the data collected to improve the conceptual model of supercell thunderstorms (the parent storms of the most destructive tornadoes) by exposing how small-scale structures within these storms might lead to tornado formation. These structures are hypothesized to be nearly invisible to all but the most precise research-grade instruments. But by revealing the hidden composition of severe storms and associating it to known characteristics of the regularly-observed larger scale environment, the TORUS project could improve supercell and tornado forecasts. TORUS had additional campaigns in 2019 and 2022.