Nowcast

Nowcast's service allows, in real-time, to see how perturbations, clouds and storm phenomena are evolving.

It uses the second generation Meteosat (MSG) with the RGB composition (red, green, blue) and channels between 01-11. Therefore the product is based on the visible wavelengths (to be used during the day with high detail) and the infrared (to be used during night time). In this way it is possible to distinguish convective or temporal systems (intense white color), fogs (saturated yellow color), low clouds (light yellow color) and high clouds (white color with frayed shape).

The satellite navigation system product is superimposed on the recorded lightning in real time. It is then possible to know the exact position of the storms but also how they move by tracing the trajectory.

During summer It is possible to identify the temporal systems by crossing the lightning with the reflection of the clouds (in the case of thunderstorms it assumes a white coloration) , as well as to understand how space and time move the thunderstorm. Often the summer thunderstorms are associated with unexpected wind bursts, called downbursts, which are very dangerous, because sudden and intense may in some cases exceed 50 knots.

Meteomed now allows us to locate these thunderstorm cells in advance and prevent the effects.

During inverno the service is very useful in identifying the fogs. Using the visible canal, as they are of low clouds, they will appear yellowish and will be very compact, slowly evolving. Even at night the fog will be identified by the infrared channel.