Brand new here and seeking information

[Rambeaux]

Good morning all - I am new to TalkWeather and look forward to being a member. I have been a volunteer at the EOC for a few years. I started helping monitor the radar last year and have been learning since. This year, the man that has been involved with the radar for many, many years, is not able to be onsite involved, so that responsibility will be mine this year. I learned a lot but I still need a lot more training as far as understanding the radar images, what I'm seeing and how to pass reliable information to our group. Is there anyone here that could spend time with me me teaching me what I need to be reliable and dependable. I realize I am not a forecaster but it is an important function of severe weather. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[WesL]

Welcome to TalkWeather!!! I think you found the right group. There are several members that could possibly help but I know there are some radar classes that one of the NWS offices offered last year. Let me see if I can find that information for you. Also, thank you for being a volunteer at your EOC and giving back to your community.

 

[CheeselandSkies]

Welcome!

I guess a good place to start would be asking how familiar you are with some of the basic radar features such as hook echos, velocity couplets and debris signatures. For example, could you identify an intense tornadic supercell such as the one that traveled across portions of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky on December 10th? These are some of the most important radar signatures (since they are associated with storms that present a high level of danger to life and property), but also some of the most obvious once you have a general idea of what to look for.

 

[WesL]

Here is the link to the thread about the radar workshops from Memphis. https://talkweather.com/threads/radar-webinar.1700

If you click the link to the radar workshop there is an e-mail address you shoot a note over to see if they have the recordings anywhere. Let us know if they do!

 

[Rambeaux]

Welcome!

I guess a good place to start would be asking how familiar you are with some of the basic radar features such as hook echos, velocity couplets and debris signatures. For example, could you identify an intense tornadic supercell such as the one that traveled across portions of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky on December 10th? These are some of the most important radar signatures (since they are associated with storms that present a high level of danger to life and property), but also some of the most obvious once you have a general idea of what to look for.

Thanks for replying. First, the software we use is GR Analyst and GR Level3. I function ok but I'm not real comfortable. I can recognize hook echos and the velocity velocity, but I feel I need more one on one training to really be confident in what I'm seeing. On the debris signatures, the GR doesn't seem to display like what I see from the local meteorologists. This is only my 2nd year and all my training has been during an event, which is not desirable. I do have GR Level3 on my home computer and I follow severe weather in other parts of country. But, I still on my own with no mentor to show me in real time. I've been a weather enthusiast for many years but only was able to be involved since I recently retired. Thanks again, and anything you can help me with is appreciated. Mike R.

 

[Rambeaux]

Here is the link to the thread about the radar workshops from Memphis. https://talkweather.com/threads/radar-webinar.1700

If you click the link to the radar workshop there is an e-mail address you shoot a note over to see if they have the recordings anywhere. Let us know if they do!

Thanks Wes!!!

 

[CheeselandSkies]

Thanks for replying. First, the software we use is GR Analyst and GR Level3. I function ok but I'm not real comfortable. I can recognize hook echos and the velocity velocity, but I feel I need more one on one training to really be confident in what I'm seeing. On the debris signatures, the GR doesn't seem to display like what I see from the local meteorologists. This is only my 2nd year and all my training has been during an event, which is not desirable. I do have GR Level3 on my home computer and I follow severe weather in other parts of country. But, I still on my own with no mentor to show me in real time. I've been a weather enthusiast for many years but only was able to be involved since I recently retired. Thanks again, and anything you can help me with is appreciated. Mike R.

On GR Level 3, go to the "CC" menu and select "CC 0.5 degrees" (for lowest tilt). That's where you look for debris signatures. Here's an example from when the 12/10 Western Kentucky EF4+ was over Cayce.

 

[Rambeaux]

On GR Level 3, go to the "CC" menu and select "CC 0.5 degrees" (for lowest tilt). That's where you look for debris signatures. Here's an example from when the 12/10 Western Kentucky EF4+ was over Cayce.

Okay. I do use the 0.5 tilt on the CC. I see the blue debris signature over Cayce. I get a little confused with the light greens and light blues that are mingled in all over the screen. Are these significant or do I concentrate on the tight signatures. Sorry for all my questions. Thanks!!!

 

[Austin Dawg]

Welcome to TalkWeather!!! I think you found the right group. There are several members that could possibly help but I know there are some radar classes that one of the NWS offices offered last year. Let me see if I can find that information for you. Also, thank you for being a volunteer at your EOC and giving back to your community.

Maybe we should create a pinned thread of basic information/terms/tools and places to find information on the Internet? The great thing about that you would be able to refer new folks and update this info in one spot that everybody can refer or add to but especially us novices.

 

[warneagle]

Maybe we should create a pinned thread of basic information/terms/tools and places to find information on the Internet? The great thing about that you would be able to refer new folks and update this info in one spot that everybody can refer or add to but especially us novices.

I think we had something like that at one point on the old forum? Definitely a good idea to have FAQ/Resources thread, or maybe just a page somewhere on the site. Maybe a wiki-type thing so we can crowdsource resources?

 

[Rambeaux]

Thanks ya'll!!! I would appreciate any learning tools

 

[Austin Dawg]

I think we had something like that at one point on the old forum? Definitely a good idea to have FAQ/Resources thread, or maybe just a page somewhere on the site. Maybe a wiki-type thing so we can crowdsource resources?

Something like that would also possibly increase membership. It definitely would give us something most sites don't have. It could be just as simple as starting a pinned thread where members can submit content preferably links that moderators could approve and edit. That way it could always be updated and added to sort of how the Significant Tornadoes thread has taken on a life of its own.

 

[WesL]

Something like that would also possibly increase membership. It definitely would give us something most sites don't have. It could be just as simple as starting a pinned thread where members can submit content preferably links that moderators could approve and edit. That way it could always be updated and added to sort of how the Significant Tornadoes thread has taken on a life of its own.

I'm on it...