Interpreting Weather Radar

Aviation Safety

Friday, November 15, 2024 at 06:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipovic

Key Takeaways:

In-cockpit Nexrad data can be significantly delayed (up to 20 minutes), showing where weather *was* rather than where it *is*, making it an unreliable tactical tool for navigating dynamic storm systems.
Nexrad detects precipitation, not turbulence directly; therefore, the displayed colors (green, yellow, red) don't assure avoidance of turbulence. Moderate to heavy precipitation (yellow and red) should always be avoided.
Due to data latency and the dynamic nature of storms, even areas depicted as yellow (moderate rain) carry elevated risk and can intensify to red or purple before cockpit displays update, underscoring that Nexrad is a strategic avoidance tool, not a tactical guide for finding safe paths through weather.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I very much enjoy your magazine. I have a question I would like your opinion on.

Reading “Riding The Storm Out” (September 2024) was very informative. However, the question I have is this: What weather would be safe to fly through? I have asked many experienced pilots the basic question: What specific weather should I not fly through? I have received different answers from just about every experienced pilot I ask.