This summer the National Weather Service will put into practice a method that uses satellite observations to predict where hazardous thunderstorms will arise.
The weather service uses radar to detect severe thunderstorms about 15 minutes before they present significant danger on the ground.
With the new method, developed by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, meteorologists could have an extra 30 to 45 minutes’ lead time, “helping us issue more accurate and timely severe thunderstorm and tornado watches before the storms form, and reduce false alarms,” said Jeff Craven, science and operations officer of the NWS Milwaukee office in Sullivan, one of four offices planning to start using the method.