Storm Intensity and Doppler Radar

[Ptarmigan]

I wonder if there have been storms where the Doppler radar picked up +75 decibels in any storm.

[senorpepr]

I wonder if there have been storms where the Doppler radar picked up +75 decibels in any storm.

Just this past Saturday in the Panhandle of Texas, several cells were +75 dBz, for several hours.

[Cyclenall]

I believe one of the northern parts of Texas had a radar that wasn't working right and kept showing very high dBz returns like whites. It was also affecting Oklahoma.

[Aslkahuna]

The Amarillo radar was giving high reflectivity values. On rare occasions we have seen AZ monsoon storms approach 75 dBz but not exceed it. Insofar as the AMA radar data was concerned it should be noted that IR satellite imagery was showing cloudtop temperatures in the -73 to -78C range so the storms were both tall and intense.

Steve

[brunota2003]

Someone said that radar was awaiting maintenance. I do believe the radar was off, other surrounding radars were only showing ~55 to 60 dBz at the same time, for the same storms.

[wall_cloud]

The Amarillo radar WAS running too hot during that event as new parts were on order. those high values should be discounted. However, I have seen several instances of 75 dBZ this year in storms although it usually only lasts for a volume scan or two.