Radar Weather Observation

Radar Weather Observation is a set of archived historical manuscripts stored on microfiche. The primary source of these radar weather observations manuscript records was approximately 110 National Weather Service (NWS) radar stations. The records were placed on microfiche monthly or annually, depending on the radar station. In addition, the years these records are available vary from station to station. There were approximately 59 NWS radar observing stations equipped with weather surveillance radar which made photographs of the plan position indicator (PPI) scope on 16-mm or 35-mm film. When echoes were visible, pictures were taken at least every 5 minutes and sometimes as often as every 40 seconds. The manuscripts consist of hourly and special observations on daily MF 7-60 forms. Observations were taken about 35 minutes past the hour throughout each 24 hour period. Each observation provides detailed information about the character, type, and intensity of precipitation; direction and distance of the echoes from the station; movement of echoes; maximum height of cells; and pertinent remarks. Most stations discontinued providing the manuscript data in 1996, but there are a few stations with data available after this time.