Radar is one of the most-used tools in meteorological analysis of real-time weather events. Radar shows where precipitation is occurring and how it is moving over time. The newer versions of doppler radar also wind speed and direction, which allows operators to identify areas that might contain a tornado or other strong wind event. If you are interested in learning more about how radar works, you might enjoy this 30-minute video on the basics of radar meteorology at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeX2lMUfddQ. You can also used derived radar products to estimate rainfall in areas where there are no surface observations.
