Very short-range weather forecasting (0-6 hours ahead), using radar and satellite data rather than numerical models.
forecastingWhat is Nowcasting?
Nowcasting relies on real-time observations rather than model predictions. Weather radar tracks existing rain cells and extrapolates their movement forward. Satellite imagery shows cloud development in real time. Machine learning algorithms increasingly assist nowcasting by recognising patterns in radar data. Nowcasting is critical for severe weather warnings — when a thunderstorm is already developing, a 1-2 hour forecast from radar is far more accurate than a model prediction made 12 hours earlier.
Key points
- Very short-range weather forecasting (0-6 hours ahead), using radar and satellite data rather than numerical models.
- Category: forecasting
Related terms
See also: nowcasting is connected to other weather concepts. Browse the full glossary for related definitions.