Definition
A weather display product, shown on a cockpit Multi-Function Display (MFD), that uses ground-based weather radar returns to depict precipitation intensity and coverage as a color-coded image overlaid on a map. The data is collected by the national network of NEXRAD radar sites, processed, and uplinked to the aircraft via a datalink service such as ADS-B FIS-B or satellite weather (e.g., SiriusXM). Because of collection, processing, and transmission delays, the image shown in the cockpit is always older than the current weather, typically by several minutes, and the time stamp on the image reflects when the data was assembled, not when it was received.
Plain English
A weather radar picture sent up to the airplane and shown on a cockpit screen. It shows where rain and storms are and how heavy they are, color-coded on a map. The picture is always a few minutes behind real life.
Context Anchor
Seen on an MFD or other cockpit weather display when the pilot selects datalink weather or a NEXRAD weather layer.
Derivation
NEXRAD stands for Next Generation Radar, the name given to the U.S. national weather radar network when it replaced older radar systems in the 1990s. 'Graphical' simply means it is presented as a picture (a map image) rather than as text or numbers.
Why Pilots Care
It lets pilots see where heavy rain and thunderstorms are located so they can adjust their route to avoid dangerous weather.
Analogy
It is like looking at a weather radar map on a phone while driving: useful for seeing the general area of bad weather, but not precise enough to prove exactly what is happening at your windshield this second.
Grounding Statement
If you see a red or yellow area ahead on the NEXRAD display, picture it as a warning about where strong precipitation was recently detected, not as a live wall painted in the sky.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “graphical NEXRAD” means live onboard radar. It is a delayed weather picture sent to the aircraft for planning and awareness.
Example Sentence 1
Looking at the graphical NEXRAD data on the MFD, the pilot saw a line of heavy precipitation and decided to divert south around it.
Example Sentence 2
While en route, the pilot used updated graphical NEXRAD data to deviate around a line of thunderstorms.