LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Throughout extreme climate protection, the StormTracker 6 Climate Staff makes use of a whole lot of completely different instruments to maintain you secure. Let’s check out the March thirtieth extreme climate occasion to point out you among the instruments we use so as to higher perceive what we meteorologists are taking a look at.
On March 30, 2025, the staff began extreme climate protection proper round 5:45 that night with a have a look at the watches and warnings throughout the viewing space. We then went into the Doppler radar, which has merchandise constructed inside it like reflectivity, velocity, and correlation coefficient.
We use instruments like satellite tv for pc and radar to have a look at the precipitation coming our method, whether or not that’s rain or snow and even extreme climate. On a quiet day like immediately, we see nothing however some gentle clouds; throughout a extreme day, it could possibly appear to be a carnival of colours, symbols and icons.
Radar from 4/17 – Quiet and calm
Radar from 4/3 – Displaying rain and snow
Doppler radar works by sending pulses of radio waves into the ambiance. If there isn’t a precipitation or simply cloud cowl on the market, the beam will go on eternally and ultimately disappear. If the wave hits one thing like a raindrop, snowflake and even natural materials like birds or mud the heartbeat of power absorbs a little bit bit into the article earlier than returning to the radar web site.
Credit score: NWS/NOAA 
Credit score: NWS/NOAA
That return sign is what we see on our satellite tv for pc and radar photos and is known as reflectivity. Reflectivity exhibits the place and the way intense precipitation is happening. The upper reflectivity, the heavier the precipitation, so while you see the darker pink and pink colours point out heavier rain, whereas gentle inexperienced signifies lighter rain.
Subsequent week’s climate Wednesday, we’ll concentrate on one other device we use referred to as velocity. It’s one other actually vital device we use throughout extreme climate, so keep tuned!
