The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates over 400 radar systems across the United States. While the main purpose for these radars is the surveillance of aircraft and for national defense, as a secondary function many are equipped with weather channels. The National Weather Service, through its NEXRAD Product Improvement Program, has been exploring how to use these data to improve the accuracy and lead time of severe weather warnings.

This paper will discuss progress made in exploring the use of FAA Radar Weather Data, particularly from the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), the Air Route Surveillance Radar, Model 4 (ARSR-4), and the Airport Surveillance Radar, Model 11 (ASR-11). Characteristics of the data, options for future operational deployment, and NWS policy in the use of this data will be discussed.