[Satellite TODAY 03-01-13] The new GOES-R satellite being built by Lockheed Martin may help provide earlier warnings for severe weather, according to the NOAA. The new satellite would be capable of detecting lightning inside storm clouds, which may lead to improvements in tornado detection. 

   The U.S. national average time to warn residents of a tornado is 14 minutes, but NASA and NOAA – final operators of the GOES-R once it is in orbit – are expecting the satellite will help improve this by providing greater spatial and temporal detail. 

   "These storms can spin up pretty quickly which limits warning lead-time," said NOAA scientist Steve Goodman. "The radar and storm spotter’s view of tornadoes reaching the ground can be blocked by terrain, or visibility is very poor when the tornado is wrapped in rain. And it’s certainly more challenging for storm spotters to observe and confirm tornadoes occurring at night. Sometimes it’s just plain hard to come up with enough advance warning."

   GOES-R would allow scientists to detect the lightning occurring inside storm clouds, and better track how developing storms are moving and intensifying before and during the occurrence of severe weather, according to NOAA.