Once again folks have been inquiring about some unusual “blips” showing on the 13WHAM Ultimate Doppler radar. These images can look like intense thunderstorms near the town of Varysburg in Western Wyoming County. The colors do not change and remain in the same location even on a clear day. The answer to this mystery is numerous wind turbines that are producing electric power in the higher elevations of Wyoming County. These local projects which use the power of the wind have created air turbulence and a false reflectivity on the radar. Most Doppler radars can block the reflectivity when the signal hits a hill or building. On the radar this is called ground clutter. But because the turbines are moving the radar can not make the distinction between droplets of rain and turbine blades.
