Which weather radar products indicate hail and microburst potential?

• A. High-reflectivity patterns
• B. Low-reflectivity patterns
• C. No velocity data
• D. Velocity-only patterns

Answer: (A)

High-reflectivity patterns on weather radar show where precipitation particles are large and dense, which is a hallmark of hail in a storm. When a storm stacks up a strong core with very high dBZ values, it signals powerful convection capable of lofting hail stones. Those same intense convective cells often produce strong downdrafts and outflow, creating microburst potential as air rapidly descends and spreads outward.

Low-reflectivity patterns would indicate lighter precipitation and less likelihood of hail or microbursts. Relying on velocity data alone omits information about particle size and precipitation density, so it doesn’t directly reveal hail or microburst potential. Velocity-only patterns don’t capture how much precipitation is present, which is key to identifying hail cores and the associated downburst risk. No velocity data would also remove Doppler wind information that can help detect wind shear or microburst signatures, making it harder to assess those threats, whereas high reflectivity directly points to strong convective activity that can produce hail and microbursts.