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Doppler Radar Information

Get the latest weather information with a Doppler radar image

By Thomas Langford
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.

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

  • 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.

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