Rain Viewer’s advanced PRO Radar technology is now available nationwide across the US, delivering direct access to raw NEXRAD Level II data streams. This expansion brings professional-grade weather radar capabilities to American meteorologists, storm chasers, and severe weather enthusiasts.
The United States joins our growing network of PRO Radar regions, which includes coverage across Europe from the Netherlands to Cyprus, providing uncompromised radar data access in over 10 countries worldwide.
Advanced Weather Analysis Tools
PRO Radar transforms your weather monitoring experience by connecting directly to individual NEXRAD stations. Access comprehensive radar datasets including:
- Base and composite reflectivity measurements
- Wind velocity analysis
- Dual-polarization parameters
- Atmospheric turbulence indicators
- Precipitation classification systems
- Phase-shift measurements
Multiple elevation angles allow you to examine weather systems from ground level through the upper atmosphere, providing complete vertical storm analysis.
The Power of Unprocessed Data
Unlike traditional weather radar displays that blend multiple sources, PRO Radar delivers direct station feeds with updates every few minutes. This eliminates the smoothing and averaging effects that can mask critical weather features.
For tornado researchers and storm interceptors, this means detecting rotation signatures, wind shear boundaries, and debris patterns that composite radar systems often obscure. When supercells develop across the Great Plains, you’ll observe their complete structure without data compromise.
Elevation Scanning for Severe Weather Detection
Understanding radar beam geometry is crucial for tornado analysis. NEXRAD stations scan at multiple elevation angles:
Low-level scans (0.5°-1.0°): Detect surface-based rotation and near-ground wind patterns. Essential for confirming tornado touchdowns and tracking low-level mesocyclones.
Mid-level analysis (2°-6°): Examine mesocyclone structure, updraft intensity, and storm-scale rotation. Key for identifying supercell characteristics and tornado potential.
Upper-level surveillance (8°-19°): Monitor storm tops, anvil development, and three-dimensional storm evolution.
Due to Earth’s curvature, radar beams sample higher altitudes at greater distances. A 0.5° scan that detects ground-level features nearby will be sampling several kilometers above ground at 300 km range, potentially missing low-level tornado activity.
Critical Parameters for Storm Analysis
Velocity Analysis (VRAD)
Motion detection reveals atmospheric circulation patterns. Identify rotating updrafts by locating areas where inbound (green) and outbound (red) velocities appear in close proximity. Strong velocity gradients often indicate developing tornadoes or microbursts.
Echo Correlation (RHOHV)
Measures signal consistency to distinguish between different target types. Meteorological targets like rain produce uniform returns (values near 1.0), while tornado debris creates chaotic signatures with significantly lower correlation values.
Shape Analysis (ZDR)
Particle geometry detection helps identify precipitation types and debris patterns. Large raindrops create positive values, while tornado-lofted debris typically produces negative signatures.
Atmospheric Turbulence (SW)
Wind variability measurements indicate storm intensity. High turbulence values often accompany severe thunderstorms and tornado-producing supercells.
Operational Workflow
Navigate to any NEXRAD location on the PRO Radar layer and select your desired data stream. Choose from available parameters and elevation angles to build comprehensive storm assessments. The interface updates continuously as new radar volumes become available.
This direct-access approach proves invaluable for:
- Real-time tornado tracking across Tornado Alley
- Hurricane structure analysis along coastal regions
- Flash flood monitoring in mountainous terrain
- Winter storm evolution tracking
- Severe thunderstorm nowcasting
Professional Applications
Storm chasers gain unprecedented situational awareness through high-resolution velocity data and debris detection capabilities. Emergency managers can monitor developing severe weather with minimal latency. Research meteorologists access the same data quality used in operational forecasting.
The system’s strength lies in preserving original radar measurements without interpolation or smoothing, ensuring that subtle but critical atmospheric features remain visible for analysis.
PRO Radar represents the next evolution in public weather radar access, bringing research-grade capabilities to anyone serious about understanding atmospheric processes. Experience the difference that unfiltered, high-resolution radar data makes in severe weather analysis.
Access PRO Radar through Rain Viewer and discover professional weather monitoring capabilities.
