More Weather Radar

In our last issue, we talked about the building blocks of weather radar-how it was developed, the basics of radio waves, problems with radar sampling, and the important differences between composite and base reflectivity. If you havent read that, I highly recommend you do so to get a good grounding in radar fundamentals. In this issue well take that knowledge and teach you a bit about interpretation.

Tim Vasquez

Friday, September 15, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Understand radar's limitations and the environmental context: Radar primarily detects visible water and ice particles (rain, hail), not moisture or clouds. Always prioritize checking environmental conditions like instability and shear via convective outlooks (e.g., Storm Prediction Center), as these are critical for severe storm development regardless of radar indications.
Recognize key reflectivity signatures of danger: High reflectivity, particularly when elevated (at high altitudes) or showing strong gradients, signals intense updrafts, severe icing, and strong circulations, necessitating avoidance. Be aware of airborne radar attenuation ("shadowing") and utilize tilt/range settings to detect developing cells.
Identify hazardous storm patterns: Look for specific patterns like concavities, V-shapes (indicative of supercells), isolated cells (which have higher potential for severity), and deviant cell motion, as these are strong indicators of severe updrafts, rotation, and potential for tornadoes or large hail.
Consider storm organization and data timeliness: Large organized systems like Mesoscale Convective Systems (squall lines) can produce dangerous phenomena such as bow echoes and gustnadoes. Remember that cockpit radar data is often delayed by several minutes; use it for planning and situational awareness, but rely on ATC guidance or visual observation for real-time storm navigation.

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In our last issue, we talked about the building blocks of weather radar—how it was developed, the basics of radio waves, problems with radar sampling, and the important differences between composite and base reflectivity. If you haven’t read that, I highly recommend you do so to get a good grounding in radar fundamentals. In this issue we’ll take that knowledge and teach you a bit about interpretation.

My background is primarily in meteorology and I hold a certification on the NEXRAD radar, so with this grounding in weather radar I can teach you some tricks and techniques to help you make sense of what you’re seeing. I hope this article helps you think like a forecaster so you can adapt to the data available in the cockpit and make decisions that will assure a safe flight. You can also use the information just sitting at home as a storm rolls into your city.