All WSR-88D scanning strategies start volume scan coverage at the lowest elevation angles. Thus, radar data from the lowest scans of precipitating systems can be five or six minutes old at the completion of a volume scan. This can produce a critical time lag between the observation of radar signatures and their identification by radar-derived algorithms. Agencies such as the National Weather Service and Federal Aviation Administration could obviously benefit from faster access to severe weather algorithm output within their respective warning decision procedures.

The Warning Decision Support System-Integrated Information (WDSS-II) is the National Severe Storms Laboratory's (NSSL) warning decision technology platform. WDSS-II contains severe weather detection and prediction algorithms and can ingest data from multiple observational platforms and WSR-88D data from multiple radars. WDSS-II now contains a rapid update capability that updates severe weather algorithm output after each elevation scan is completed instead of at the conclusion of the entire volume scan. Specifically, four NSSL algorithms have been equipped with a rapid update capability: the Storm Cell Identification and Tracking algorithm; Hail Detection Algorithm; Tornado Detection Algorithm; and Mesocyclone Detection Algorithm.

Real-time testing of the WDSS-II severe weather algorithms’ rapid update output was recently conducted at NSSL and the Norman National Weather Service Office. Problems found in testing have been identified and corrected. The rapid update capability within NSSL’s suite of severe weather detection algorithms should allow forecasting agencies to avoid unwanted delays in severe weather warnings.