Broome 256km Radar/Lightning

LocationBroome Meteorological Office Radar TypeWF 44 S Band Typical Availability2100-0001; 0130-0700; 0900-1300; 1430-1900

Broome Weather Watch Radar is situated so that it overlooks Roebuck Bay to the south-east and the wider Indian Ocean ( north to south-west). With an unrestricted view extending over 250 kilometres and no permanent echoes to provide conflicting imaging. During the "Dry Season" ( April to Sept ) very few images are seen. Usually, the only occasional images appear just to the north of Broome and are surf breaks at the entrance to Willie Creek. During October and November distant thunderstorms can be seen extending north-east to south-east. Usually at a distance of 100 to 150 kilometres they often track towards Broome, but are decimated by the fresh afternoon sea breezes, seldom getting to within 50 kilometres of the Broome town site. December is usually characterized by the thunderstorms and large convective clouds approaching over Roebuck Bay to the south-east and also from the inland area to the north-east. These storms often impact the Broome area as the "wet season" gets into motion. Anomalous propagation features during most of the year resulting in "false echoes" being displayed. These low intensity spots, often occur in winter months, probably as a result of inland fog, and / or sea spray along the north-west coast. Cyclone activity in months December to April generally results in widespread rainfall over land areas north-east to south-east, and generally characterized by well defined spiralling bands of precipitation revolving around the "eye" of the Cyclone and may extend as far as 250 kilometres radius of Broome radar. Heavy rain directly over the radar site can cause attenuation of all signals. Path attenuation can also occur when the radar beam passes through intense rainfall, with the returned signals from cells further along that path reduced.