National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Areas of Excessive Rainfall, Severe Thunderstorms, and Extreme Heat

Heavy to excessive rainfall is expected through tonight across portions of the central Plains. Areas of intense rainfall amounts could support increasing flooding concerns. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of the central/southern Plains today and tonight, with large hail and damaging winds the main threats. Areas of extreme heat will impact parts of the West this week. Read More >

Link to Pan and Zoom RADAR Imagery

Latest RADAR imagery (KMAX--Mt Ashland)

 

KBHX--Eureka, CA

 

KBBX -- Beale AFB, CA

 

KRTX--Portland, OR

 

 

Click to enlarge national RADAR image

 

RADAR Loop

Pan/Zoom RADAR

  • Slower loading but features more detail and capabilities.
Helpful hints when viewing this "lite" RADAR imagery

 

Time is it UTC. Subtract 7 hours to get PDT and 8 hours to get PST

Other "lite images" click here.

Ground Clutter:

Image is what it can look like when there is no precipitation but significant ground clutter.  The grey and green areas won't move much. 

 

Actual Precipitation:

Image below shows precipitation in the area.  Green areas change/move like you'd expect with areas of rain/snow. 

 

Geocolor Loop

Geocolor

Infrared with Lightning

  • Good indicator for height of clouds
  • Colder/higher cloud tops are blue
  • Can use daytime or nighttime
  • Lightning "flashes" indicate include in-cloud, cloud to cloud, or cloud to ground flashes.

Fire Temperature

  • Good indicator for wildfire location and movement
  • Brighter reds indicate hotter fires
Day Cloud Phase Distinction

Day Cloud Phase Distinction

  • Helps determine if clouds include ice or not
  • Clouds transitioning from white shades to green and yellow shades indicate stronger showers
Water Vapor Imagery

Water Vapor Imagery

  • Used for tracking winds and moisture in the middle troposphere, as low as around 18,000 feet, or 500mb. Surface features are usually not apparent in this band.