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60th Anniversary of the First Tornado Detected by Radar

Published April 9, 2013 by Jim Angel

Today is the 60th anniversary of the first documented case of a tornado detected by radar. Water Survey staff, at Willard Airport in Champaign, IL, captured the historic event on film on April 9, 1953. This discovery helped lead to the first national weather radar network in the United States. The radar was located at […]

First Documented Radar Hook Echo

Published April 21, 2010 by Jim Angel

The Illinois State Water Survey is home to the first ever documented radar hook associated with an actual tornado. Water Survey staff captured the historic event on film on April 9, 1953. This was a major turning point in monitoring severe weather, demonstrating that tornadoes could be identified by radar. This discovery helped lead to […]