History of Weather radar in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 18, 2026

Weather radar, also known as weather surveillance radar or Doppler weather radar, is a radar technology used to detect precipitation, measure its movement, and determine its type. Modern weather radars primarily utilize pulse-Doppler technology. This allows them to identify the motion of raindrops and the intensity of precipitation. The data collected can then be analyzed to understand storm structures and predict the likelihood of severe weather events.

1900: Comparison to the 1900 Galveston hurricane

The alert and evacuation made possible by the weather broadcast about hurricane Carla is compared to the 1900 Galveston hurricane which killed an estimated 6000-12000 people.

1950: Incorporation of Reflectivity Radars

Between 1950 and 1980, reflectivity radars, which measure the position and intensity of precipitation, were incorporated by weather services around the world.

1950: EKCO Demonstrates Airborne Radar

In 1950, the UK company EKCO demonstrated its airborne 'cloud and collision warning search radar equipment'.

1953: First Radar Observation of a Hook Echo

In 1953, Donald Staggs, an electrical engineer working for the Illinois State Water Survey, made the first recorded radar observation of a "hook echo" associated with a tornadic thunderstorm.

September 1961: First use of weather radar on television

In September 1961, during Hurricane Carla, Dan Rather used the U.S. Weather Bureau WSR-57 radar in Galveston to broadcast live, outlining the storm's size and location for viewers. This helped in the alerted population accepting the evacuation of an estimated 350,000 people by the authorities.

1964: NSSL began experimentation

In 1964, the NSSL began experimentation on dual polarization signals and on Doppler effect uses.

May 1973: Doppler Radar Documents Tornado Life Cycle

In May 1973, a Dopplerized 10 cm wavelength radar from NSSL documented the entire life cycle of the Union City, Oklahoma tornado, discovering a mesoscale rotation in the cloud aloft before the tornado touched the ground.

April 1974: Super Outbreak of Tornadoes

The Super Outbreak of tornadoes on 3–4 April 1974, and their devastating destruction, helped to get funding for further developments in weather radar technology.

1980: Incorporation of Reflectivity Radars

Between 1950 and 1980, reflectivity radars, which measure the position and intensity of precipitation, were incorporated by weather services around the world.

1980: Weather Radar Networks Become the Norm

Between 1980 and 2000, weather radar networks became the norm in North America, Europe, Japan, and other developed countries.

1985: Construction of the King City station

By 1985, Environment Canada constructed the King City station, with a 5 cm research Doppler radar.

1988: Construction of NEXRAD or WSR-88D

In 1988, the construction of a network consisting of 10 cm radars, called NEXRAD or WSR-88D (Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler), was started in the United States.

1993: McGill University dopplerized its radar

In 1993, McGill University dopplerized its radar (J. S. Marshall Radar Observatory).

1998: Complete Canadian Doppler network established

Between 1998 and 2004, a complete Canadian Doppler network was established.

1999: McGill University Radar Converted

McGill University J. S. Marshall Radar Observatory in Montreal, Canada converted its instrument (1999) and the data were used operationally by Environment Canada in Montreal until its closure in 2018.

2000: Research on Dual Polarization Technology

After 2000, research on dual polarization technology moved into operational use.

2000: Misinterpretation of Weather Radar

Around 2000, there are other objects which can be misinterpreted as rain or snow by weather radars, such as Insects and arthropods are swept along by the prevailing winds, while birds follow their own course.

2000: Weather Radar Networks Become the Norm

Between 1980 and 2000, weather radar networks became the norm in North America, Europe, Japan, and other developed countries. By the early 2000s, France and other European countries had switched to Doppler networks. Meanwhile, rapid advances in computer technology led to algorithms to detect signs of severe weather, and many applications for media outlets and researchers.

March 2003: Park Forest, Illinois, meteorite fall

An image shows the Park Forest, Illinois, meteorite fall which occurred on 26 March 2003.

2003: NSF Established CASA

Also in 2003, the National Science Foundation established the Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA).

2003: NOAA Experiments with Phased-Array Radar

Since 2003, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been experimenting with phased-array radar as a replacement for conventional parabolic antenna to provide more time resolution in atmospheric sounding.

2004: Complete Canadian Doppler network established

Between 1998 and 2004, a complete Canadian Doppler network was established.

2004: ARMOR Doppler Weather Radar Equipped with SIGMET Receiver

In 2004, ARMOR Doppler Weather Radar in Huntsville, Alabama was equipped with a SIGMET Antenna Mounted Receiver, giving Dual-Polarmetric capabilities to the operator.

2005: King City Radar Dual-Polarized

In 2005, Environment Canada's radar in King City (North of Toronto) was dual-polarized; it uses a 5 cm wavelength, which experiences greater attenuation.

2008: NEXRAD Added Extra Resolution of Data

In 2008, the US NEXRAD radar network added extra resolution of data.

2009: False Positives for Tornado Vortex Signature Algorithm

In 2009, the rotating blades of windmills on modern wind farms can return the radar beam to the radar if they are in its path. In some conditions, the radar can even see toward and away velocities that generate false positives for the tornado vortex signature algorithm on weather radar; such an event occurred in Dodge City, Kansas.