Radar
Radar Velocity Reading Guide: Wind Toward, Wind Away, Rotation, and Limits
A beginner guide to radar velocity, including inbound and outbound wind, rotation clues, range limits, and why warnings need context.
Quick answer: Radar velocity shows wind motion toward or away from the radar, which can reveal rotation, outflow, and strong wind signatures.
Colors and direction
Velocity colors depend on radar settings, but they generally separate wind moving toward and away from the radar.
The radar only measures motion along the beam, not every part of the wind.
Rotation clues
Strong inbound and outbound winds close together can suggest rotation.
Meteorologists compare velocity with reflectivity, storm structure, reports, and environment.
Limits
Velocity can be noisy, distant, blocked, or affected by height above ground.
Do not make safety decisions from one radar image alone.