Tools of the Trade - Radar

This cumulonimbus was located southeast of Waterloo easily visible from Cedar Falls. Notice the cap cloud at the top which is caused by the storm updraft lifting a layer of air as the layer is blown over and around the storm top much like water flowing over a rock in a stream. As the layer is lifted there is enough moisture to create the clouds as it cools due to the upward motion.

Here are two radar images from the National Weather Service Doppler Radar in Des Moines. The storm is plainly visible on radar southeast of Evansdale, Waterloo, and Cedar Falls, Iowa. The storm core with the heaviest rain is located in the area of the red echo.

The radar image below is the Enhanced Storm Top product from the radar. The dark blue indicates a top of about 28,000 feet.