Local Weather Radars

Meteorologists and weather forecasting enthusiasts have been able to increase their knowledge respective to the occurrence and strengthening of hurricanes and tropical storms by the use of satellites and a range of scientifically advanced tools.

Satellites which have commonly been referred to as our great eyes within the sky are often used by meteorologists through a variety of onboard sensors and radars to actively track and monitor storms by taking accurate readings including wind speeds and temperatures within these storms allowing meteorologists to have a better understanding to these weather conditions.

Before the event of satellite launch, meteorologists found it exceedingly difficult to determine how and where tropical cyclones were formed. The information used in forecasting these events were sadly limited to ships and specific tropical islands where weather forecasting and observations were made, and often included the use of costal radars.

In 1960 the United States sent up its first ever weather satellite to monitor weather conditions and patterns. This weather satellite was called the TIROS and was seen as the new beginning in an era of weather forecasting technology as meteorologists through the continuous and vast amounts of data obtained were able to achieve an in-depth first-hand view of tropical cyclones.

Meteorologists were able to conclude that the symmetry observed within specific cloud patterns and the characteristic to eh eye of a hurricane respective to it’s Central Dense Overcast were factors which could be used to accurately determine the strength of the tropical cyclone or hurricane.

Images provided by these satellites have allowed meteorologist and weather forecasters by collecting closely serving weather conditions through a vast amount of constant imagery provided by these satellites to effectively track exiting weather systems and provide accurate forecasts respective to future developments of such conditions.

The Doppler radar is used to actively detect and monitor rain associated with tropical cyclonic activity by covering a target area of within 200 to 250 miles from the location of the radar. These Doppler radars used are able to accurately provide the amount of rainfall experienced within the system in addition to the rain bands, the eye and the wall of the eye associated with the hurricane.

Improved Doppler radars have been able to effectively provide weather forecasters and meteorologists with data relative to the motion of tropical cyclones, and tornado activity which can occasionally accompany a tropical cyclone system through an estimation of the current wind speeds within the tropical cyclone.