NWS Wilmington (OH) WSR-57 Radar image of supercells with hook echoes during 1974 Super Outbreak (courtesy of NCDC)Īround the same time period, researchers began developing a new generation of radars that would incorporate the use of Doppler radar. These radars provided similar data but with newer and more reliable components. An updated version, the WSR-74, supplemented and replaced the older radars beginning in 1977. The technology was refined and in 1959 the NWS began rolling out its first network of radars dedicated to a national warning network. Navy donated 25 surplus radars to the NWS (then known as the Weather Bureau), marking the start of a U.S. Investigation into this phenomenon resulted in the discovery that these echoes were returns from the precipitation, unmasking a further use for the technology.

Analysts noted in periods of heavy weather, the radar would return strange signals. But the use of radar for weather observations occurred by accident. The concept of RAdio Detection and Ranging (Radar)began in the late 1800’s and by World War II, radar was in use by militaries around the world, scanning for incoming airplanes. Doppler radar sends the energy in pulses and listens for any returned signal.

Weather network radar