nowcastingu

Nowcasting refers to the meteorological practice of predicting weather conditions for a very short period, typically up to two hours into the future. It is distinct from short-term forecasting, which generally covers periods of 6 to 48 hours. The primary goal of nowcasting is to provide highly detailed and accurate information about current and imminent weather changes.

The techniques employed in nowcasting heavily rely on real-time observational data. This includes information from weather radar, which detects precipitation intensity and movement, and geostationary satellites, which provide images of cloud cover and atmospheric motion. Other sources like surface weather stations, lightning detection networks, and even crowd-sourced data can supplement these observations.

Nowcasting is particularly useful for phenomena that evolve rapidly, such as thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hail, and strong winds. The output of nowcasting systems is often presented visually, allowing meteorologists to track the development and movement of weather systems and issue timely warnings. This is crucial for public safety, aviation, and various weather-sensitive industries. The effectiveness of nowcasting hinges on the rapid processing and interpretation of high-resolution, up-to-the-minute data.