National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Back-to-Back Pacific Storms to Impact the West Coast; Heavy Snow in the Central Appalachians

Back-to-back powerful Pacific storm systems to impact the Pacific Northwest and northern California through the end of this week with heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow. A strong, long-duration atmospheric river will accompany the Pacific storms, bringing excessive rainfall and flash flooding to southwest Oregon and northwest California through the week. Read More >

Link to Pan and Zoom RADAR Imagery

Latest RADAR imagery (KMAX--Mt Ashland)

 

KBHX--Eureka, CA

 

KBBX -- Beale AFB, CA

 

KRTX--Portland, OR

 

 

Click to enlarge national RADAR image

 

RADAR Loop

Pan/Zoom RADAR

  • Slower loading but features more detail and capabilities.
Helpful hints when viewing this "lite" RADAR imagery

 

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Ground Clutter:

Image is what it can look like when there is no precipitation but significant ground clutter.  The grey and green areas won't move much. 

 

Actual Precipitation:

Image below shows precipitation in the area.  Green areas change/move like you'd expect with areas of rain/snow. 

 

Geocolor Loop

Geocolor

Infrared with Lightning

  • Good indicator for height of clouds
  • Colder/higher cloud tops are blue
  • Can use daytime or nighttime
  • Lightning "flashes" indicate include in-cloud, cloud to cloud, or cloud to ground flashes.

Fire Temperature

  • Good indicator for wildfire location and movement
  • Brighter reds indicate hotter fires
Day Cloud Phase Distinction

Day Cloud Phase Distinction

  • Helps determine if clouds include ice or not
  • Clouds transitioning from white shades to green and yellow shades indicate stronger showers
Water Vapor Imagery

Water Vapor Imagery

  • Used for tracking winds and moisture in the middle troposphere, as low as around 18,000 feet, or 500mb. Surface features are usually not apparent in this band.