When it comes to getting up-to-the-minute weather information, nothing beats an image from a Doppler radar. Local television stations' live Doppler radar, National Weather Service Doppler radar and other satellite as well as Doppler radar maps are important tools in helping you decide whether or not to proceed with an outdoor job or event.

Doppler radar weather systems are constantly scanning the sky, tracking the exact locations of rain, snow, wind and storms. This guide will help you best take advantage of that information by showing you how to:

1. Find Doppler radar sites that are located across the country.

2. View current national Doppler radar images.

3. View live local Doppler radar images.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a map of national Doppler radar sites

Doppler radars are an extremely complex and expensive piece of weather equipment, yet Doppler radar sites are located in almost every state. Most Doppler weather radar systems are operated by the National Weather Service, but some are operated by other organizations and television stations.

I recommend: The National Weather Service has a great map that shows Doppler radar weather sites across the country. The University of Michigan has a similar map available for public use.

View current national Doppler radar images

A national Doppler radar image can give you an idea of the current weather conditions anywhere in the country. It can also show you what types of storm systems are heading your way in the next few days.

I recommend: Weather Underground provides an easy-to-use national Doppler radar map. Just click on a region of the county, and you'll get the current Doppler radar image for that region. For another source of a national Doppler radar map, check out the website run by Weather Channel Interactive. The site gives you a nationwide look at up-to-the-minute weather conditions.

View local Doppler radar images

If you need to make an instant decision about a job or event, you're going to want to check out a local Doppler radar image. These pictures, provided by a network of Doppler weather radars across the country, are excellent for detailing exactly where a storm is located.

I recommend: For a great source of local Doppler radar images, take a look at goWally.com. The website lists hundreds of Doppler radars. Just click on the one you want to view an image. WSI Corporation provides local Doppler radar images on its Intellicast.com website. From the linked page, use the scroll bar under the "Current Radar" heading to chose the city you would like to view.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't just rely on a Doppler radar image when making a decision about an outdoor job or event. Weather systems can quickly change in size, intensity and direction. For the most accurate weather forecast, especially when severe weather is threatening, get a forecast from a trained meteorologist.

In widespread use since the 1980s, Doppler radar provides some of the most current and accurate information on developing or approaching storms. And it's not just a tool for meteorologists; in fact, many television stations and weather agencies have made it accessible to the general public by featuring live Doppler radar images on their websites.

With satellite and Doppler radar maps, anyone can see how large and how severe a storm is, and if it might threaten their city or town. Doppler weather radar systems are used to:

1. Identify potential storms.
2. Track severe weather in real time, using live Doppler radar images.
3. Develop short-term forecasts for a specific geographic location.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Monitor your city's weather with local Doppler radar

Miss your local weather report? With live local Doppler radar, you can see any storms that might move into your area--and you can see them at any time, from anywhere, as you as you have access to the Internet.

I recommend: Find real-time Doppler radar maps at Intellicast and local Doppler radar maps at AccuWeather.

Check national Doppler radar before traveling

Wondering what clothes to pack for your trip to another state or even country? Worried about the weather disturbances that plague some areas of the world, occurrences such as typhoons or tornadoes? A check of national Doppler radar sites can alert you to any potential problems, before you board your flight or leave your hotel room.

I recommend: Start with a check of the National Weather Service Doppler radar. Most local weather agencies and television stations have their own Doppler radars, but they also refer to images from the National Weather Service, the agency that issues weather warnings for the entire country. Also look at The Weather Channel's Weather.com website or the USA Today site.

Get instant notification of severe weather, with alerts from Doppler radar sites

Most weather sites offer email and text message alerts for when a weather advisory is issued. You can sign up only for alerts for your own county or for your entire state, and have the information sent directly to your inbox or cell phone.

I recommend: Your local television station's weather center probably offers e-mail and cell phone alerts, which you can sign up for online. For example, KWTV News 9 in Oklahoma City offers I-News, a desktop application that alerts you to severe weather. Or, purchase software such as StormPredator, which includes NEXRAD Doppler radar and email, pager and cell phone alerts. Download a free 30-day trial version.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Looking at online satellite and Doppler radar maps can help you stay alert to potential severe weather, but it's no substitute for tuning in to your local television or radio station, and the live coverage and interpretation provided by their professional meteorologists.