Katherine 256km Radar/Lightning

LocationRAAF Base Tindal Radar TypeWSR 81C-8 C Band Typical Availability24 hours

The Tindal radar is located on a small hill and offers a good view in all directions and no permanent echos are evident. The appearance of "false echoes" or Anomalous Propagation (AP) is generally limited to occasions where there are significant temperature inversions (in normally stable conditions) in the lower atmosphere. AP can fluctuate rapidly from one image to the next as the inversion is forming or dissipating, however, it has a quite static appearance and can normally be distinguished from "real" echoes which exhibit some movement and a definite life cycle of development and decay. RAAF aircraft operating in the area, particularly to the west and southwest, can drop "chaff" which will give a weak radar return. Such echoes normally dissipate quickly, seldom lasting longer than 15 to 20 minutes. The radar can suffer some attenuation loss during heavy precipitation events. In these instances, the leading echoes are normally displayed at "true" intensity, while trailing echoes may be displayed at a lower intensity due to some loss in signal strength. It is rare to observe echoes at a range greater than 300 km. The display of echoes at 300 km is indicative of the upper structure of a storm exceeding 12 km in height, however, echoes from storms at that distance may not display accurate intensities since the radar beam is generally directed above the most intensive part of the storm.