RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Check out some of the tools our meteorologists use to provide you with crucial weather information.
20 years ago, meteorologists got weather and radar information from the internet one image at a time for every six minutes. Technologies have advanced now though, which allows us to have access to an ocean of data and resources at our fingertips. Now, 8News meteorologists can deliver timely, lifesaving information in times of severe weather.
So when the weather is wild and we are in a continuous coverage mode, you get to see it happening LIVE on your television screen.
On a “run of the mill day,” 8News meteorologists are analyzing data on four different computers.
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8News meteorologists usually set one of the four computers on a wider view of our viewing area. This gives them a constant overview of all the storms, and helps us not focus so closely on storm that we miss something else that is popping up.
Another screen is devoted to our main tracking system. This is how 8News meteorologists track storms to see what neighborhoods they will affect. The last computer is used to get information before the storm on how explosive the atmosphere is primed to be along with updates on watches and warnings.
Finally, we have our “off air” radar display. Instead of one radar image every six minutes (like the old days), there are nearly 50 different items popping up that show what is happening in the storm.
Watch the video above to see how 8News meteorologist John Bernier uses the computers.
All these tools are great and extremely helpful, but they aren’t fool proof. Some storm appear larger on radar than they really are — like the 2008 tornado in the Tri-Cities that we just can’t see them when looking at other storms. But over the past 20 years, our use of these tools has vastly increased the amount of warning time that we can now give you when these storms are approaching.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
