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Radar Basics for Storm Chasers
Join the 2027 Storm Chasing Tour: https://stormchasercoaching.com/2027-tour
Get the Cheat Sheet: https://stormchasercoaching.com/storm-chasing-podcast-notes
Join the Discord community: https://discord.gg/stormchasercoaching
Subscribe to Chaser Academy: https://mee6.xyz/en/m/1413711578800459778?subscribe=1454274253170946048&bundle=1
Get FREE Chaser Safety Ebook: https://stormchasercoaching.com/eight-rules/
Get FREE Dixie Alley Ebook: https://stormchasercoaching.com/dixie-alley/
Buy SCC Merch: https://storm-chaser-coaching.myspreadshop.com/
Follow SCC on Twitter: https://x.com/TornadoCoaching
Follow Trey on Twitter: https://x.com/ConvChronicles
Follow Gabriel on Twitter: https://x.com/CrazyGabey
Most storm chasers know how to pull up radar — but do you actually know what you're looking at? In this episode, you'll learn the key radar signatures every chaser must recognize, from reflectivity and velocity basics to supercell structure and tornado vortex signatures, so you can make smarter, safer decisions in the field.
00:00 Intro: Radar Basics for Storm Chasers
01:02 Reflectivity vs. Velocity Explained
01:38 What Reflectivity Tells You
02:13 Best Reflectivity Product to Use
03:00 What Velocity Data Reveals
03:40 Base vs. Storm Relative Velocity
06:17 Supercell Radar Signatures
08:10 Identifying Tornadoes on Radar
In this episode of the Storm Chaser Coaching podcast, host Gabriel Harber sits down with Lead Coach Trey Greenwood to break down the essential radar skills every storm chaser needs to stay safe and make smart decisions in the field.
The conversation starts with the two foundational radar products every chaser should master: reflectivity and velocity. Reflectivity — often called the "how hard it's raining" mode — reveals precipitation intensity, hail location, and storm structure. For the best results, Trey recommends using Super-Res Reflectivity, the high-resolution product available in apps like RadarScope, over products like Composite Reflectivity that tend to overestimate values.
Velocity data, the "how fast is the wind blowing" mode, shows wind speed and direction, making it critical for identifying rotation, microbursts, and straight-line wind signatures. Trey explains when to use each velocity product: storm relative velocity is ideal for spotting rotational signatures and tornado vortex signatures, while base velocity is best for identifying microburst and MCS straight-line wind events.
The episode then dives into supercell identification on radar — from spotting the kidney-bean updraft shape at storm initiation, to reading tight reflectivity gradients, hook echoes, and strengthening low-level mesocyclones as storms mature.
Finally, Trey walks through how to identify a developing tornado on radar: look for a strong velocity couplet — tight reds and greens side by side — and watch for a drop in correlation coefficient as a sign that debris is being lofted. Throughout, both coaches emphasize that radar must always be paired with visual storm observation, since radar scan intervals of four to five minutes can mask rapid, dangerous changes in storm behavior.
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By Storm Chasing | Tornado | Weather
4.8
88 ratings
Join the 2027 Storm Chasing Tour: https://stormchasercoaching.com/2027-tour
Get the Cheat Sheet: https://stormchasercoaching.com/storm-chasing-podcast-notes
Join the Discord community: https://discord.gg/stormchasercoaching
Subscribe to Chaser Academy: https://mee6.xyz/en/m/1413711578800459778?subscribe=1454274253170946048&bundle=1
Get FREE Chaser Safety Ebook: https://stormchasercoaching.com/eight-rules/
Get FREE Dixie Alley Ebook: https://stormchasercoaching.com/dixie-alley/
Buy SCC Merch: https://storm-chaser-coaching.myspreadshop.com/
Follow SCC on Twitter: https://x.com/TornadoCoaching
Follow Trey on Twitter: https://x.com/ConvChronicles
Follow Gabriel on Twitter: https://x.com/CrazyGabey
Most storm chasers know how to pull up radar — but do you actually know what you're looking at? In this episode, you'll learn the key radar signatures every chaser must recognize, from reflectivity and velocity basics to supercell structure and tornado vortex signatures, so you can make smarter, safer decisions in the field.
00:00 Intro: Radar Basics for Storm Chasers
01:02 Reflectivity vs. Velocity Explained
01:38 What Reflectivity Tells You
02:13 Best Reflectivity Product to Use
03:00 What Velocity Data Reveals
03:40 Base vs. Storm Relative Velocity
06:17 Supercell Radar Signatures
08:10 Identifying Tornadoes on Radar
In this episode of the Storm Chaser Coaching podcast, host Gabriel Harber sits down with Lead Coach Trey Greenwood to break down the essential radar skills every storm chaser needs to stay safe and make smart decisions in the field.
The conversation starts with the two foundational radar products every chaser should master: reflectivity and velocity. Reflectivity — often called the "how hard it's raining" mode — reveals precipitation intensity, hail location, and storm structure. For the best results, Trey recommends using Super-Res Reflectivity, the high-resolution product available in apps like RadarScope, over products like Composite Reflectivity that tend to overestimate values.
Velocity data, the "how fast is the wind blowing" mode, shows wind speed and direction, making it critical for identifying rotation, microbursts, and straight-line wind signatures. Trey explains when to use each velocity product: storm relative velocity is ideal for spotting rotational signatures and tornado vortex signatures, while base velocity is best for identifying microburst and MCS straight-line wind events.
The episode then dives into supercell identification on radar — from spotting the kidney-bean updraft shape at storm initiation, to reading tight reflectivity gradients, hook echoes, and strengthening low-level mesocyclones as storms mature.
Finally, Trey walks through how to identify a developing tornado on radar: look for a strong velocity couplet — tight reds and greens side by side — and watch for a drop in correlation coefficient as a sign that debris is being lofted. Throughout, both coaches emphasize that radar must always be paired with visual storm observation, since radar scan intervals of four to five minutes can mask rapid, dangerous changes in storm behavior.