Definition
A weather chart, produced from a network of weather radar sites, that shows the location, intensity, movement, and tops of areas of precipitation and thunderstorm activity at a specific time. It depicts radar-detected returns such as rain, snow, and convective cells, but does not show clouds or fog that produce no precipitation.
Plain English
A map showing where rain and storms are, how strong they are, which way they're moving, and how high the storm tops reach, all based on weather radar.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight weather planning when a pilot wants a broad view of precipitation and storm areas along or near a route.
Derivation
‘Radar’ comes from ‘radio detection and ranging’ — bouncing radio waves off objects to find them. ‘Summary’ means a condensed overview. So the name simply describes what the chart is: a single picture summarizing what all the weather radars are seeing.
Why Pilots Care
Allows pilots to identify and avoid thunderstorms and heavy precipitation that could produce turbulence, icing, or reduced visibility.
Grounding Statement
Picture checking one map before departure to see the main areas of rain and storms across a region.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a radar summary chart is a live cockpit radar display. It is a weather-planning chart based on radar reports from a specific time.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot checked the radar summary chart and saw a line of thunderstorms moving east across the planned route.
Example Sentence 2
An updated radar summary chart showed the storm moving northeast, so the flight plan was adjusted to remain clear of the area.