GDL-49 and Levels of Radar Returns

"O. Sami Saydjari" wrote in message ...
As I was coming into Grand Rapids (KGRR) yesterday, the controller announced that there was a "level 5"
return (or perhaps she said "cell") on final to runway 8, so I was vectored to 35 where there were mostly
"just level 4" stuff. So, forgive my ignorance, but where are these levels defined? I assume they have to
do with what sort of radar return they get off a cloud and therefore has to do with rain intensity. Does a
level 5 return imply that a thunderstorm is likely to be generating it?


By the way, when you flew through the "just level 4 stuff", how did you find the ride?

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Cheers,
John Clonts
Temple, Texas
N7NZ