Radar Lab: Rareps
A rarep (or radar report) is given to give a text version of the radar display.
The following is a table to help interpret the coded message.

MMO

1828

AREA

4RW+/-

140/125 210/67 80W

2720 C3125

MT 380 AT 180/85

SML HAIL AT 180/85

3-letter station identifier

Time of report

Echo Characteristic

 

Precipitation type, intensity and trend

 

Location of echoes, Azimuth/Range

Movement of echo area, and cells within the area

Echo tops in thousands of feet at azimuth and range

Additional remarks

 

Marseilles, IL

1828 GMT 1328 CDT

Area of echoes

4/10 coverage, VIP 3 rain showers and decreasing in intensity

40 nmi either side of a line from 140° 125 nmi to 210° 67 nm

Area movement from 270° at 20 kts, cells from 310° at 25 kts

Maximum top at 38,000 Feet at 180° 85 nmi

Small hail reported at
180° 85 nmi

Area Characteristic: Area, Line, Cell, Spiral Band

Precipitation Type: S – snow, R – rain, W – shower, IP – ice pellets (sleet), L – drizzle,
T – Thunderstorm, Z - freezing

Intensity: - VIP1 (Light), (blank) VIP 2 (Moderate), + VIP 3 (Strong), ++ VIP 4 (Very Strong), X VIP 5 (Intense), XX VIP 6 (Extreme), A Hail, U Unknown intensity

Trend: + Increasing in intensity, NC No change in intensity, - Decreasing in intensity, NEW New echo

Cell Diameter: An echo reported as a cell will be as a single point with a diameter in nautical miles. (e.g. D12)

Miscellaneous: PPINE PPI no echoes, PPINA PPI not available, PPIOM PPI out for maintenance, SPL special report

Decode each rarep on a separate sheet of paper.

1. MMO SPL 2105 CELL TRWX/NEW 350/15 D10 3214 MT 450

 

2. STL 1925 AREA 7S/NC 180/25 30/45 85/120 120/80 1805 TOPS UNIFORM 110 6IP+/- 85/120 120/80 120/130 1805

 

3. MSP 2225 LN 3TRWXXA/+ 180/20 185/130 50W 2735 C2940 MT 580 AT 185/125 TORNADO REPORTED WITH THIS CELL

 

4. DSM 0725 PPINE

 

5. CLE SPL 2135 CELL TRWXX/+ 90/45 D17 1805 MT 620