How to Track Local Storms on Weather Radar

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By jimdris
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Storm

Most people have a general idea of what kind of weather to expect based on local TV and radio forecasts or by looking at the weather corner on their computer's home page. When a storm is actually approaching your area, it is possible for anyone to get real time, detailed information on the storm's likely arrival time and intensity. This article will show your how to track an approaching storm online, by viewing weather radar resources.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Computer
Internet Access

Step 1

WVEC TV Local Radar Loop

Most cities have at least three local TV stations that offer news and weather information online. Use a Google or other search engine to find each of them by entering your city's name plus "TV weather", or your local station's call letters plus "TV weather", into the search box (for example "WVEC TV weather"). Select a local site, and when you get to it click on Weather. From there find a listing for Weather Radar or an actual radar map to click on. Look carefully for a function that says "Animation" or "Radar Loop". A radar loop will enable you to view the actual movement of storms toward your location over the past hour or so.
Step 2

Accuweather Image

Weather radar presentations also give you information on the type and intensity of the precipitation that is headed toward your location. A legend generally appears adjacent to the radar display that shows what the various color codes mean. For example, green is lighter rain, yellow and orange show moderate or heavier rain, and red is very heavy rain. Freezing rain and sleet are often shown in pink, and snow is shown in various shades of blue. Therefore, when viewing a weather radar loop, you can see not only the size and movement of a storm, but also its strength, what kind of precipitation is falling, and even whether sectors of the storm are getting stronger, based on changes in the intensity colors. If there are areas of orange and red approaching your area, you can also anticipate some thunder and lightning!
Step 3

Weather.com Image

The Weather Channel's website, Weather.com, also has weather radar loops. Enter your zip code at the top of their home page, and then scroll down and click on the radar map that comes up on the next page. A "Play" button is found at the bottom of the map, so that you can view a 55 minute loop of a storm's radar movement, in 5 minute increments. You can then extrapolate a storm's future movement and intensity, and maybe shout out: "It's gonna be raining really hard here in about 35 minutes!"
Step 4

Accuweather Image

Another excellent source of real time weather radar loops is Accuweather.com. Enter your zip code near the top of Accuweather's home page, then scroll down the local page that opens, to the radar map. Click on "Loop", and then finally on "Large Loop", and you will be able to view a 75 minute history of an approaching storm based on 15 minute increments. Now you can shout out: "Yup, I've got it on Accuweather; we're gonna get wet very soon!"