How often does the radar update?
The answer depends on the weather. If it's a nice, clear day, the radar will be in Clear Air Mode and will only update once every ten minutes or so (since there's not really anything to look at, anyway). However, once organized rain begins to form, the radar switches into Precipitation Mode and updates once every four or five minutes.
Why does the radar show rain at my house when it's not really raining?
Because of the way radar works, sometimes things on the ground and in the sky can get in the way. You'll see this as 'junk' on the radar screen -- usually a bunch of randomly spaced dots or maybe a ring of color around the radar site (Peachtree City). You may especially notice this when it's a nice day and the radar is in Clear Air Mode. That mode of radar operation is especially sensitive -- it has been known, on occasion, to pick up fog and even flocks of birds. There are other times when the radar will show rain that is actually falling, but is evaporating before it hits the ground.
Where is the radar located?
We use the National Weather Service radar site in Peachtree City. This page was created by processing data from that radar site through
GRLevel3 software.
© 2008