Definition
The radar-indicated altitude of the highest detected precipitation within a thunderstorm or area of convective weather, measured by ground-based weather radar and displayed on cockpit weather products as a height (typically in hundreds or thousands of feet MSL).
Plain English
The height of the tallest part of a storm that radar can see, based on where rain or hail is detected. It tells you how high the precipitation reaches.
Context Anchor
Seen on cockpit weather displays, especially when using datalink weather or a multi-function display to evaluate thunderstorms and other strong precipitation areas.
Derivation
Echo' here refers to a radar return — the signal that bounces back off precipitation. So 'echo tops' literally means the top of the radar echo: the highest altitude at which the radar still detects precipitation.
Why Pilots Care
Reveals the vertical reach of convective activity so pilots can choose safe altitudes and deviation routes.
Grounding Statement
If a storm’s echo tops are shown at 35,000 feet, the radar is detecting storm material up to about that altitude, even if the cloud may extend higher.
Intuition Check
Do not read “echo tops” as “cloud tops.” Echo tops are the tops of radar-detected precipitation returns, not the tops of the entire cloud.
Example Sentence 1
The MFD showed echo tops near 45,000 feet over the line of storms, so the crew requested a deviation well around the cell rather than attempting to climb above it.
Example Sentence 2
We checked echo tops before climbing to confirm the storm was not building above our cruising altitude.