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How to Identify Tornadoes on Radar

Tornadoes are fascinating and scary weather phenomena that scientists still do not fully understand. Advances in detection such as Doppler Radar allow meteorologists and scientists to locate and measure the intensity of dangerous storms and warn people.

Meteorologists identify tornadoes and supercells through computers and analysis of radar signatures. Tornadoes may appear in storm areas containing strong updrafts that can appear on radar.

Things You'll Need

Doppler Radar images
Internet

Instructions

- 1
  Look for an intense updraft denoted by wind speeds on the radar inside a red supercell area. A supercell is a large thunderstorm with severe updrafts that rotate for a period of 15 minutes or longer. The area will be approximately 2 to 4 miles in diameter and will rotate. This is a mesocyclone, which may spawn a tornado.
- 2
  Look for a "hook echo" on radar. A hook echo occurs when rain or precipitation is wrapped around a particularly strong mesocyclone. The "hook" curls around what is likely a tornado, although the tornado may not be visible.
- 3
  Look for a "bow" signature. A tornado may form in the outside center of what looks like an archer's bow. The tornado will create a small notch near the center point of the bow. This is the inflow notch, which feeds the tornado with air.
- 4
  Look for a Tornadic Vortex Signature (TVS). This is an intense, rapidly-rotating area that indicates a tornado, and may take computer algorithms to identify. A Tornadic Vortex Signature is proof that a funnel cloud, if not a tornado, has formed.

Nature