KENX NEXRAD IMPACTS: Winter Snowstorm Radar Observations

31 NEXRAD radar sites collected Level II surveillance data from January 1 to March 1, 2020 for the IMPACTS field campaign. The dataset contains dual-polarization base data quantities, including radar reflectivity, radial velocity, and differential phase, to study snowband formation and microphysics over the U.S. Atlantic Coast. It is part of a three-year campaign, with data available in netCDF-4 format and updates planned for subsequent years.

Use Cases

• Analyzing snowband formation and evolution mechanisms based on radar reflectivity and velocity data.
• Examining snow particle microphysics and growth mechanisms using dual-polarization variables like differential reflectivity.
• Improving snowfall remote sensing interpretation and numerical weather prediction models with high-resolution radar observations.
• Conducting spatiotemporal analysis of winter storm structure across 31 radar sites on the Atlantic Coast.

Strengths

• Contains data from a focused, three-year scientific campaign (IMPACTS) with a clear research agenda.
• Includes dual-polarization radar variables from 31 specific sites, providing detailed spatial coverage for the study region.
• Data is stored in the structured, self-describing netCDF-4 format, which is standard for scientific data exchange.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are not specified in the provided metadata, complicating initial analysis.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026-04-10 vs. 2020-03-01) create uncertainty about the dataset's currency and maintenance.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected via Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) Level II surveillance systems at fixed sites.

Time Range

January 1 to March 1, 2020

Freshness

2026-04-10 01:51:57.931634

Geography

U.S. Atlantic Coast, from 31 NEXRAD radar sites