Definition
A network of high-resolution Doppler weather radars operated by the National Weather Service that detects precipitation, storm intensity, and wind motion within precipitation. NEXRAD imagery is distributed to pilots through Flight Service briefings, aviation weather websites, and cockpit datalink weather services such as ADS-B FIS-B and SiriusXM.
Plain English
A nationwide weather radar system whose images show pilots where rain, snow, and thunderstorms are, how strong they are, and how they are moving.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation weather briefings, flight planning apps, weather websites, and cockpit displays that show datalink weather.
Derivation
Next Generation Weather Radar — named when it replaced older 1950s and 60s radar systems in the 1990s with modern Doppler technology that can measure motion inside storms, not just precipitation location.
Why Pilots Care
Allows pilots to identify and avoid thunderstorms, heavy precipitation, and associated turbulence during preflight planning and in-flight decisions.
Grounding Statement
A NEXRAD image is a recent picture of precipitation from ground radars, not a live view out the windshield.
Intuition Check
Do not assume NEXRAD is live, onboard radar. It is ground-based weather radar information, and the picture a pilot sees can be delayed.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot checked NEXRAD and saw a line of thunderstorms moving across the planned route.
Example Sentence 2
Updated NEXRAD imagery showed a line of thunderstorms moving across the arrival airport, leading to a holding decision.