How does a Doppler radar indicate a tornado?
Doppler radar doesn’t indicate a tornado; rather it indicates the rotation of a supercell thunderstorm that might produce a tornado. Doppler radar does very well in showing the “hook” echo indicative of strong rotation of a supercell that s close to the radar location and can be confidently interpreted as a tornado. Learn more about weather radar on this USA TODAY resource page, and about tornado formation on this USA TODAY interactive graphic. Also check out this Storm Prediction Center FAQ about tornadoes and severe weather. (Answered by Dan McCarthy, warning coordination meteorologist with the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.
