At 1755 UTC a DH-8 commercial prop plane reported moderate to severe rime icing at 15,000 ft in northeast PA, in the area of agitated cumulus we have been monitoring for convective initiation. In the same location, the GOES-R Cloud Phase (CPHASE) product was showing a small, persistent area of supercooled cloud tops.
While surface dewpoints were only in the 40s to low 50s, a sounding taken at 1200 UTC this morning in Pittsburgh showed fairly moist and below freezing mid-levels between about 10,000 and 15,000 ft (~3 to 4 km). Additionally, cloud tops in this area, as tracked via the IR image at 1745 and 1815 UTC, were noted to be only around 17,000 ft. The lift associated with these developing shallow topped cells (while not noted in the 12Z sounding because it was still pretty early), along with this mid-level moisture would definitely allow for the formation of supercooled water droplets as the CPHASE is indicating, and supports the icing PIREP.
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| 120608 1745 UTC Cloud Phase product |
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| 120608 1815 UTC Cloud Phase Product |
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| 120608 1200 UTC sounding from PIT |
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