National Wind Institute - TTU NWI

🌪How do scientists measure what happens inside a tornado?

Atmospheric Science Professor and NWI Faculty Affiliate Dr. Chris Weiss and his students are helping answer that question through the Low-level Internal Flows in Tornadoes (LIFT) field campaign. By deploying Texas Tech University's mobile Ka-band radars near tornadic storms across the Plains, researchers are collecting high-resolution observations of the wind field in and around tornadoes.

These measurements help scientists better understand tornado structure, intensity, and the near-ground winds responsible for much of the damage tornadoes produce. The research will contribute to improved severe weather warnings, enhanced building practices, and a deeper understanding of one of nature's most powerful phenomena.

Photo credit: Josiah Melke, Joshua Ostaszewski, and Julia Buhrman

Congratulations to our Director, Dr. John Schroeder, on being inducted into the National Academy of Inventors this past week! This prestigious recognition honors individuals whose innovations have made a meaningful impact through discovery, technology, and real-world application.

The National Academy of Inventors champions academic innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, embracing emerging technologies, and advancing AI-driven progress—values that continue to shape the future of research and society. We are proud to see Dr. Schroeder's contributions recognized alongside other leading innovators from across the nation.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Schroeder on this outstanding achievement!

Big milestone for the West Texas Mesonet! 🌦️

This week, installation of Mesonet station #182 near Sonora, Texas, was completed — marking 25% completion of the new stations being deployed as part of the Texas Senate Bill 5 Flooding Project.

These stations will help provide critical weather observations across Texas, supporting flood monitoring, forecasting, research, and public safety efforts for years to come.

We’re proud to continue expanding the network and improving weather observations across the state, one station at a time.

Yesterday, the West Texas Mesonet had the opportunity to visit the 6th–8th graders at Hunt ISD for their Science Alive Day! 🌦️

Students learned about the West Texas Mesonet, StickNet tornado and hurricane deployments, mobile Ka-band radars, and careers in meteorology. We always enjoy sharing how weather research and observations help keep communities informed and safe — and, hopefully, inspire the next generation of scientists along the way!

Check out this video highlighting Dr. Kishor Mehta and his work at Texas Tech!

https://spectruminfocus.com/section/in-focus/in-focus/2026/05/08/studying-tornadoes

Studying tornadoes Our guest is Dr. Kishor Mehta from Texas Tech University.

Ka-radars: spotted!

Quality control check: approved by the locals ✔️🌾

It takes a lot of road time to keep the West Texas Mesonet running—at least two visits per station each year and about 2,000 miles a week!

Photo from Senior Technician, Matthew McEwen

The research for Enhanced Fujita Scale is deeply tied to Lubbock LUBBOCK, Texas — More than five decades after the devastating 1970 tornado tore through downtown Lubbock, its impact is still being felt — not just in memory, but in the science that helps sa…

🌪Why do storms form along the Caprock?

Dr. Chris Weiss, a professor at Texas Tech University and NWI faculty affiliate, explains that thunderstorms need three ingredients: water v***r, instability, and forced upward motion. The Panhandle has the first two covered — moisture from the Gulf and big temperature contrasts on spring afternoons. The Caprock delivers the third. Its ~200-meter rise in elevation can lift easterly winds just enough to spark a storm, making this stretch of West Texas a springtime storm hotspot.