In order for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use airspace more
efficiently during thunderstorm events, accurate storm longevity forecasts
are needed. Relationships between 16 radar reflectivity-derived storm char
acteristics and storm longevity are examined to determine which, if any, of
the storm characteristics are strongly related to storm lifetime. Such rel
ationships are potentially useful for the development of storm longevity fo
recasts. The study includes 879 storms that formed over the Memphis, Tennes
see, area during 15 late spring and summer convective days. Statistical ana
lyses comparing all 16 storm characteristics to the observed remaining life
time show that these storm characteristics are not good predictors for stor
m remaining lifetime.