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Another efficient excessive precipitation event over the Houston area. The rhohv>0.98 indicating a uniformity in the drop size distribution, likely dominated by collision-coalescence.
Zdr generally < 1 dB implying a small drop size at a relatively high concentration, especially in some of the embedded convection (where Kdp > 0.5 degrees/km).
Also not as much lightning as you’d expect to see in mid-latitude rainfall where graupel/ice content tends to be higher and convection tends to be deeper. Suggesting that there are some “tropical” characteristics to this heavy rainfall event. It is late June in Houston...
All this is aided by weak isentropic ascent off the Gulf of Mexico on the 298K theta surface. But note the advection of higher mixing ratios (20 g/Kg!) off the Gulf!
Not *entirely* characteristic of the env over Houston, but the best we can do. 12Z LCH showing a moist adiabatic troposphere w/ skinny CAPE. Also a deep warm cloud layer (up to ~6km) allowing for efficient warm rain processes. Looking at layer > -10°C to account for SC liquid
