History of Weather radar in Timeline

Weather radar is a crucial tool for detecting precipitation, assessing its movement, and determining its type. Modern Doppler weather radars go further, measuring the velocity of rain droplets. This advanced capability allows meteorologists to analyze storm structures and predict the likelihood of severe weather events. By providing real-time data on precipitation intensity and movement, weather radar plays a vital role in issuing timely warnings and protecting lives and property from the impacts of hazardous weather.

1900: Galveston hurricane

The 1900 Galveston hurricane killed an estimated 6000-12000 people.

1950: Reflectivity radars incorporated worldwide

Between 1950 and 1980, reflectivity radars, which measure the position and intensity of precipitation, were incorporated by weather services around the world. Early meteorologists had to watch a cathode-ray tube to observe data.

1950: Airborne radar equipment demonstrated

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 during Hurricane Carla

In September 1961, during Hurricane Carla, reporter Dan Rather broadcasted live from the U.S. Weather Bureau WSR-57 radar site in Galveston, using a transparent overlay to show the storm's size and location to viewers. This was the first use of weather radar on television.

1964: NSSL experimentation

In 1964, the NSSL (National Severe Storms Laboratory) began experimentation on dual polarization signals and on Doppler effect uses.

May 1973: NSSL documents tornado life cycle

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

April 1974: Super Outbreak of tornadoes

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

1980: Reflectivity radars incorporated worldwide

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. Conventional radars were replaced by Doppler radars.

1985: King City station constructed

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

1988: Construction of NEXRAD network begins

In 1988, the United States started constructing NEXRAD or WSR-88D (Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler), a network consisting of 10 cm radars, following NSSL's research.

1993: McGill University dopplerized its radar

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

1998: Complete Canadian Doppler network

Between 1998 and 2004, Canada established a complete Doppler network.

1999: McGill University J. S. Marshall Radar Observatory converted

McGill University J. S. Marshall Radar Observatory in Montreal, Canada has converted its instrument in 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: Objects misinterpreted by weather radars

As of 2000, Objects can be misinterpreted as rain or snow by weather radars. 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. Conventional radars were replaced by Doppler radars.

March 2003: Park Forest, Illinois, meteorite fall

On 26 March 2003, the Park Forest, Illinois, meteorite fall occurred.

2003: National Science Foundation establishes 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

Between 1998 and 2004, Canada established a complete Doppler network.

2004: ARMOR Doppler Weather Radar equipped

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: Environment Canada radar dual-polarized

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

2008: NEXRAD added extra resolution of data

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

2009: Wind farm interference with radar

In 2009, an event occurred in Dodge City, Kansas, where the radar generated false positives for the tornado vortex signature algorithm due to the rotating blades of windmills on modern wind farms returning the radar beam to the radar.

April 2013: All United States National Weather Service NEXRADs dual-polarized

In April 2013, all United States National Weather Service NEXRADs were completely dual-polarized.

April 2013: NEXRAD radars equipped with dual-polarization

NOAA equipped all its 10 cm NEXRAD radars with dual-polarization, which was completed in April 2013.

2014: NEXRAD additional intra-cycle scanning

In 2014, US NEXRAD radar network added additional intra-cycle scanning of the lowest level elevation (MESO-SAILS).

2018: Closure of Environment Canada

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