Mackay Radar Notes
| Location | Mt Bassett, Mackay Harbour |
|---|---|
| Radar Type | WF 44 S Band |
| Typical Availability | 0000-0915; 1030-1515; 1630-2115; 2230-0000 |
Mackay radar has a good view of the surrounding area and is rarely affected by anomalous propagation. Some permanent echoes occur to the north and west. Showers in the SE trade wind flow are generally well picked up but when they are restricted in height the range of detection decreases so that showers around the Whitsunday Islands and northward can be under-represented. Generally the radar's range for coastal showers extends from about St Lawrence to Bowen. Path attenuation also occurs when the radar beam passes through an intense thunderstorm cell; the returned signal from cells further along that path will be reduced. Apart from these features, the radar performs well and gives a reasonably accurate representation of rainfall intensity. During episodes of fresh to strong winds (>20kt or 38km/h) sea clutter can be seen up to 30km from the coast possibly masking light inshore showers.
About Future Radar
Future radar is a new drop-down option available on the Weatherzone radar, allowing you to see where precipitation may fall in the next 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hour timeframe. It is a prediction that uses past radar and satellite data to infer the movement and intensity of precipitation. This differs from observed radar which uses physical instrumentation to measure and render precipitation as it happens.
Future radar performs best with broad scale weather systems. However there are limitations in its performance when volatile convective systems develop and change within a short timeframe, as these scenarios provide local impacts that are difficult to predict in terms of speed, direction, intensity and shape.
To help visually distinguish between past timeframes and future timeframes, the radar animation will show predicted radar imagery at reduced opacity. You have the option to turn future radar on or off as it suits your needs.
Latest News
Map Legend
Lightning Heatmap
- 0.1
- 15
- 60
Lightning Strikes
- Latest
- 15 MINS AGO
- 30 MINS AGO
- 45 MINS AGO
- 60 MINS AGO
Ground Strike
Cloud to Cloud Strike
Obs Field (Rainfall - 10 mins)
- < 0.2
- < 0.6
- < 1.2
- < 2.4
- < 5
- < 10
- 10+
Obs Field (Rainfall - Since 9AM)
- < 0.2
- < 5
- < 10
- < 25
- < 50
- < 100
- 100+
Obs Field (Temperature)
Obs Field (Dew Point)
Obs Field (Wind km/h)
- 0 - 19
- 20 - 30
- 31 - 39
- 40 - 61
- 62 - 87
- 88+
Rain radar
Light
Heavy
Thunderstorm Risk
- Thunderstorms possible
- Thunderstorms likely
- Thunderstorms severe
Temperature Gradient Map
- -8 °C
- -4 °C
- 0 °C
- 4 °C
- 8 °C
- 12 °C
- 16 °C
- 24 °C
- 28 °C
- 32 °C
- 36 °C
- 40 °C
- 44 °C
- 48 °C
Warning Areas (BOM)
- SEVERE WEATHER
- FIRE
- FLOOD
- COASTAL WIND
- MISC.