NOAA has deployed a revolutionary phased-array radar system that can scan the atmosphere 10 times faster than current technology, producing the first-ever detailed look inside tornado vortices as they form.

The Technology

The APAR (Advanced Technology Demonstrator) radar completes a full volume scan every 60 seconds compared to 5 minutes for current WSR-88D radars. This speed allows meteorologists to see tornado formation in near real-time.

Warning Improvement

Early testing has shown the potential to increase tornado warning lead time from 13 minutes to 25 minutes, with significantly fewer false alarms.