Weather Forecasting in France Part II: Radar Coverage

Once used solely for military purposes, radar technology is now an indispensable tool meteorologists use in forecasting.  Radars send out a beam of energy, which is returned to the radar when it comes into contact with a rain drop, hail stone, snow flake or any other falling precipitation.  The amount of energy returned to the radar and the time it takes for the energy to return indicate the type and intensity of the precipitation.  Recently, many radars around the globe are being upgraded to something called dual-polarization.  This means that 2 beams of energy are sent out simultaneously.  One is oriented in the horizontal and one in the vertical.  France currently has 17 radars upgraded to dual-polarization.

Meteo France has 27 radars total.  Twenty-four of the radars return information from a 100km radius and three of the radars from a radius of 60km.  Most of France (seen in the image below) has radar coverage with many areas having overlapping coverage.  This overlapping coverage is helpful in seeing storms and areas of precipitation from multiple angles. (numbers from http://www.meteofrance.com/accueil)

Image from http://www.meteofrance.com/accueil.

The shaded blue/red/green areas show the extent of where data can be seen from the points in the middle of each circle (radar's location).  The smaller green shaded areas are radars that are in test phase and the ones with a smaller radius of 60km.  'Dpol' shows which radars have been updated to dual-polarization!

The Meteo France website shows a looping composite image (combination of all radars).  At the time this post was written, an area of rain was moving to the south from the northeastern coast across central France.  These radars are going to play in integral role during the 2 weeks of the World Equestrian Games!

From http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/animation/radar/france.