Storm Notice to Improve with Advanced Radar
By: Meteorologist Andrew Logsdon
Updated: February 8, 2013
The National Weather Service is rolling out a new tool that could help us relay storm information to you sooner and more accurately.
It's a new kind of radar, and it gives us a better picture inside a storm.
It'll give us more time to prepare for nasty roads- and as a result, could save more lives.
It's called dual polarization, and the NWS office in Syracuse is installing it on Monday.
It gives us a 3D-like picture inside storm clouds.
Which means we not only see when a storm is coming, but also the blurs between rain, sleet or snow, and how heavy it's going to fall.
"It enables forecasters to try and get a little more detailed information, especially for winter events, trying to get a little more precise when precipitation types are changing. And that should improve our forecasts and help the public be better prepared for them," says NWS Science and Operations Officer Jeff Logsdon.
That's good news for snow plow drivers like Roberto Soto.
"It helps out a lot because we go out and we work, otherwise we stay home," Soto says.
Knowing a storm's intensity sooner gives parents more time to prepare for possible school delays.
"That's awesome! It's really difficult when you got to get up and first thing in the morning, and you know, just have to wait... If you guys know first, then I can know sooner," says mother of a six-year-old Christy Wingfield.
"It might help out the drivers, to help get the roads cleared out in the morning. If they're out in it, get it cleared up so they can get to where they're going a little better," says roadside assistance driver Doug Dasher.
Fort Wayne City Utilities Director Frank Suarez says it goes beyond road conditions.
"And I think additionally for this city, if it can predict when it's going to be a heavy rainfall, that certainly can help us with flash flooding that might occur in some Fort Wayne neighborhoods... So there may be an opportunity to be better prepared for some of those instances," Suarez says.
Installation of the new radar is expected to last all of next week.
During that week, our local weather service radar will be down during that time.
But don't worry, as storms pop up, we'll still have radar from nearby cities.
WFFT meteorologists Kristen Kirchhaine and Andrew Logsdon will be on top of anything coming our way until the new and improved systems is ready to go.
It's a new kind of radar, and it gives us a better picture inside a storm.
It'll give us more time to prepare for nasty roads- and as a result, could save more lives.
It's called dual polarization, and the NWS office in Syracuse is installing it on Monday.
It gives us a 3D-like picture inside storm clouds.
Which means we not only see when a storm is coming, but also the blurs between rain, sleet or snow, and how heavy it's going to fall.
"It enables forecasters to try and get a little more detailed information, especially for winter events, trying to get a little more precise when precipitation types are changing. And that should improve our forecasts and help the public be better prepared for them," says NWS Science and Operations Officer Jeff Logsdon.
That's good news for snow plow drivers like Roberto Soto.
"It helps out a lot because we go out and we work, otherwise we stay home," Soto says.
Knowing a storm's intensity sooner gives parents more time to prepare for possible school delays.
"That's awesome! It's really difficult when you got to get up and first thing in the morning, and you know, just have to wait... If you guys know first, then I can know sooner," says mother of a six-year-old Christy Wingfield.
"It might help out the drivers, to help get the roads cleared out in the morning. If they're out in it, get it cleared up so they can get to where they're going a little better," says roadside assistance driver Doug Dasher.
Fort Wayne City Utilities Director Frank Suarez says it goes beyond road conditions.
"And I think additionally for this city, if it can predict when it's going to be a heavy rainfall, that certainly can help us with flash flooding that might occur in some Fort Wayne neighborhoods... So there may be an opportunity to be better prepared for some of those instances," Suarez says.
Installation of the new radar is expected to last all of next week.
During that week, our local weather service radar will be down during that time.
But don't worry, as storms pop up, we'll still have radar from nearby cities.
WFFT meteorologists Kristen Kirchhaine and Andrew Logsdon will be on top of anything coming our way until the new and improved systems is ready to go.
