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Broome Radar

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Broome Radar Notes

Broome Weather Watch and Windfinding RadarWestern Australia WA17.9450°S 122.2250°E 9m AMSL
LocationBroome Meteorological Office
Radar TypeWF 44 S Band
Typical Availability2100-0001; 0130-0700; 0900-1300; 1430-1900

Broome Weather Watch Radar is situated so that it overlooks Roebuck Bay to the south-east and the wider Indian Ocean ( north to south-west). With an unrestricted view extending over 250 kilometres and no permanent echoes to provide conflicting imaging. During the "Dry Season" ( April to Sept ) very few images are seen. Usually, the only occasional images appear just to the north of Broome and are surf breaks at the entrance to Willie Creek. During October and November distant thunderstorms can be seen extending north-east to south-east. Usually at a distance of 100 to 150 kilometres they often track towards Broome, but are decimated by the fresh afternoon sea breezes, seldom getting to within 50 kilometres of the Broome town site. December is usually characterized by the thunderstorms and large convective clouds approaching over Roebuck Bay to the south-east and also from the inland area to the north-east. These storms often impact the Broome area as the "wet season" gets into motion. Anomalous propagation features during most of the year resulting in "false echoes" being displayed. These low intensity spots, often occur in winter months, probably as a result of inland fog, and / or sea spray along the north-west coast. Cyclone activity in months December to April generally results in widespread rainfall over land areas north-east to south-east, and generally characterized by well defined spiralling bands of precipitation revolving around the "eye" of the Cyclone and may extend as far as 250 kilometres radius of Broome radar. Heavy rain directly over the radar site can cause attenuation of all signals. Path attenuation can also occur when the radar beam passes through intense rainfall, with the returned signals from cells further along that path reduced.

About Future Radar

Future radar is a new drop-down option available on the Weatherzone radar, allowing you to see where precipitation may fall in the next 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hour timeframe. It is a prediction that uses past radar and satellite data to infer the movement and intensity of precipitation. This differs from observed radar which uses physical instrumentation to measure and render precipitation as it happens.

Future radar performs best with broad scale weather systems. However there are limitations in its performance when volatile convective systems develop and change within a short timeframe, as these scenarios provide local impacts that are difficult to predict in terms of speed, direction, intensity and shape.

To help visually distinguish between past timeframes and future timeframes, the radar animation will show predicted radar imagery at reduced opacity. You have the option to turn future radar on or off as it suits your needs.

Latest News

Map Legend

Lightning Heatmap

  • 0.1
  • 15
  • 60
Lightning Pulses / Square kilometre per minute

Lightning Strikes

  • Latest
  • 15 MINS AGO
  • 30 MINS AGO
  • 45 MINS AGO
  • 60 MINS AGO

PlusGround Strike

SquareCloud to Cloud Strike

Obs Field (Rainfall - 10 mins)

  • < 0.2
  • < 0.6
  • < 1.2
  • < 2.4
  • < 5
  • < 10
  • 10+

Obs Field (Rainfall - Since 9AM)

  • < 0.2
  • < 5
  • < 10
  • < 25
  • < 50
  • < 100
  • 100+

Obs Field (Temperature)

0° C15° C40° C

Obs Field (Dew Point)

0° C10° C30° C

Obs Field (Wind km/h)

  • 0 - 19
  • 20 - 30
  • 31 - 39
  • 40 - 61
  • 62 - 87
  • 88+

Rain radar

Legend Rainfall Intensity

Light

Heavy

Thunderstorm Risk

  • Thunderstorms possible
  • Thunderstorms likely
  • Thunderstorms severe

Temperature Gradient Map

  • -8 °C
  • -4 °C
  • 0 °C
  • 4 °C
  • 8 °C
  • 12 °C
  • 16 °C
  • 24 °C
  • 28 °C
  • 32 °C
  • 36 °C
  • 40 °C
  • 44 °C
  • 48 °C

Warning Areas (BOM)

  • SEVERE WEATHER
  • FIRE
  • FLOOD
  • COASTAL WIND
  • MISC.

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