The utility of the TDWR data in weather forecast offices

There are 47 Terminal Doppler Weather Radars across the United States, all near large population centers. These TDWRs are C-Band Doppler radars that have very good clutter suppression and velocity dealiasing. The TDWRs main objective is to provide automated warnings of hazardous weather phenomena (microbursts and gust fronts) to air traffic control. Realizing that the TDWRs could also have value to NWS forecast offices the NEXRAD Product Improvement Program and the National Severe Storms Laboratory have been working together to test the concept of providing TDWR data to forecast offices to help with the warning decision process. At this time TDWR data have been used in the Taunton, MA, Salt Lake City and Norman Forecast offices. This paper will describe how the TDWR data are being provided to these offices and also preliminary impressions from these offices on the utility of the TDWR data.