A three-level rating system is used to describe certain weather conditions such as rain, drizzle or snow. The RADAR system describes the three levels as light, moderate or heavy. Light is signified by two small squares spaced opposite from each other horizontally. Moderate has three squares and heavy has four, which creates a diamond shape. There are RADAR symbols that describe other types of weather conditions such as freezing rain, freezing drizzle, rain showers and snow showers. These are rated on a two-level system -- light or moderate. To view these symbols, as they vary depending on the weather condition, visit www.nssl.noaa.gov
If you want to know a little more than the basics, there are plenty more symbols to describe more specific information. RADAR has assigned symbols to represent all types of rare or extreme weather conditions such as dust, smoke, ice pellets, snow grains, fog, haze and blowing snow. You might not see these symbols in your daily forecast but these symbols are useful to recognize. These can also be viewed at www.nssl.noaa.gov, the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
Weather intensities are represented by different colors for different temperature ranges. Intensity is measured in Fahrenheit.
Below 15 degrees - dark blue
Above 15 but below 25 - light blue
Above 25 but below 35 - green
Above 25 but below 45 - brown
Above 45 but below 55 - red
Above 55 but below 65 - pink
Above 65 - black
There are many types of weather conditions that need to be described. Because there is so much information, the RADAR system has several types of maps to portray specific types of weather information. These types include local, graphical, aviation, marine, fire, hurricane, severe weather and even space weather.