Systems and methods for determining convective cell growth from weather radar reflectivity data

A system for determining convective cell growth from weather radar reflectivity data comprising:

• a display device couple to receive display commands and configured, in response to the display commands, to display one or more images;
• and
• a processing device coupled to the display device and configured to:
• a) receive first weather reflectivity values and receiving second weather reflectivity values at a point in time subsequent to receiving the first weather reflectivity values;
• b) store the first and second weather reflectivity values in cells of a three- dimensional buffer;
• c) for each of the first and second weather reflectivity values, calculate a vertically-integrated reflectivity (VIR) value for a column of cells in the three- dimensional buffer, the column of cells being associated with a latitude/longitude position;
• d) compare the VIR value for the second weather reflectivity values against the VIR for the first weather reflectivity values to determine a difference in the VIR values;
• and
• e) when the difference in the VIR values is greater than a threshold value, supply display commands to the display device that cause the display device to display a convective cell growth hazard indication on the display device in an area of the display device that corresponds to the latitude/longitude position.