Definition
A ground-based computer system used by air traffic control that combines weather data from multiple sources, including National Weather Service radars and observations, into a single integrated weather picture displayed on controller screens. It replaces older systems that showed only raw radar returns and gives controllers a unified view of precipitation intensity, storm movement, and significant weather along aircraft routes.
Plain English
A computer that gathers weather information from many radars and weather stations, blends it together, and shows it to air traffic controllers as one clear picture so they can route aircraft around bad weather.
Context Anchor
Seen in descriptions of air traffic control equipment and FAA weather-display systems, especially in en route control facilities.
Derivation
“Radar” originally comes from “radio detection and ranging,” meaning finding objects or weather areas by using radio waves. “Processor” means something that takes information in, works on it, and sends out a usable result. Together, the phrase points to a system that receives weather and radar information and turns it into a display controllers can use.
Why Pilots Care
Gives pilots a single, reliable radar picture in the cockpit so they can plan routes around storms without relying on scattered or outdated reports.
Intuition Check
Do not read “processor” as a person making weather decisions. Here it means a computer system that handles weather and radar data for controller displays.
Example Sentence 1
The controller used data from the Weather and Radar Processor to suggest a deviation around a line of thunderstorms ahead.
Example Sentence 2
Controllers can uplink Weather And Radar Processor data directly to equipped aircraft during flight.