Weather Service’s radar undergoes rehab and upgrade
Beginning July 26, 2021, the weather radar located on the Beam Road and operated by NOAA’s National Weather Service will be down for two weeks for an important upgrade, the National Weather Service announced.
Work had already begun with the extension of the gravel pad and will continue as technicians will refurbish and replace the pedestal, one of the most critical components of the radar. The pedestal is necessary for antenna rotation and positioning to capture data in all directions. The radar site near mile 2 of the Beam Road sends out signals in a circular 360-degree direction and determines rain and snowfall data which is then sent to the weather forecasting offices.
Melissa Kreller, MeteorologistIn-Charge at the NWS in Fairbanks said, “It allows us to see weather systems coming in, rain or snow, and we’re able to see the amount and where heavier precipitation is falling by the return signal that is provided.”
According to Kreller the radar station provides more short-term forecasting whereas satellites both, stationary and orbital, allow for more long term range data used in forecasting. The Nome radar’s range is 143 miles for short range and 286 miles for longer range.
The Nome radar site, locally known as the Golfball, is one of 159 operational WSR-88D radars nationwide.
The radar and pedestal were designed to last 25 years, and this radar has exceeded its lifespan. The current updates are done to keep the radar functioning for another 20 years or more.
NOAA’s National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, and the Federal Aviation Administration are spending $135 million in the eight-year program to update the radar systems. First, new signal processors were installed, then the transmitters were refurbished and now the pedestals are replaced or refurbished. The fourth project will be the refurbishment of the equipment shelters. The overhaul of the radar sites will be complete in 2023.
At the Nome site, the work will conclude a crane to remove the dome and other components. Ironically the work is slated to be done this week, with record breaking rain and strong winds of up to 40 mph in the forecast for Wednesday. Kreller said that adverse weather will probably delay the crane work until Friday, when winds are forecast to die down.
According to Kreller the Nome radar is expected to be offline until August 4.
In a Facebook post NWS Alaska said that during the outage, the office will still be able to perform “our standard level of hazard weather operations and issue any necessary warnings and advisories. We will be able to utilize other data such as high-resolution satellite, web cameras, observation stations, and weather spotter reports.”