NWS Louisville Doppler Radar Storm Total Precipitation

Widespread Showers in the Eastern US; Severe Thunderstorms in the Plains; Heatwave in the Desert Southwest

Widespread showers and thunderstorms across much of the central and eastern U.S. will produce areas of excessive rainfall, especially in the southern Mid-Atlantic states. Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected from Montana into portions of the central/southern Plains this weekend. A heatwave will build in the Desert Southwest, in parts of Arizona, southeastern California, and southern Nevada. Read More >

NWS Doppler Radar (WSR-88D) Example Products

NWS Doppler radar produces 1-hour, 3-hour, user-defined, and storm-total precipitation estimates. Although limitations exist, the overall estimates usually are quite good and alert forecasters to locations where heavy precipitation is or has occurred. This is very important, for example, during thunderstorm events where forecasters need to assess flash flood potential as necessary. Dual-pol now also produces precipitation estimates based on various new algorithms.

At left is a storm total precipitation estimate on May 20, 2005 that showed a band of heavy convective rainfall across southwest Indiana and central Kentucky. Estimated amounts of 2.5-5 inches (yellow shades) were noted with up to 6 inches (red) over Grayson County. Other heavy rainfall occurred over south-central Kentucky. The data can be animated to see where accumulation is most rapid.