Radar Rainfall Studies over Eastern Coast of Northeast Brazil

A WR-110-5/EEC C-band meteorological radar was installed and has been in operation in the Eastern Coast of Northeastern Brazil at about 10°S and 36°W since the beginning of 2003. Technical specifications of the radar were given. The dynamic mechanisms that produce rain over the Eastern Coast were reviewed. The disturbances in the easterlies, and associated rainfall, is one of the main mechanisms and are difficult to be predicted because they are mesoescale weather events and forecast models do not have high enough resolution to capture them. A case study of February 19 th 2003 was reported, showing that these disturbances grow very fast and can produce severe weather with rainfall total over 300 ㎜ day?¹ if the coastal sea surface temperature were above 28℃. The radar is an invaluable tool for nowcasting these events.