Mayville weather radar getting major upgrade
March 24, 2012 at 6:40 am in Grand Forks Herald
The installation of dual-polarization Doppler is part of a $50 million upgrade to radar systems nationwide. The major advantage is the ability to distinguish the shape and size of objects in the air. Forecasters say it can help them predict flash floods and determine the difference between rain and snow when it is near 32 degrees. Continue Reading
I know it’s a two week process to upgrade the radar, but will the radar actually be offline during the upgrade? If so, is June the best time of year to be doing this? At the ranges they are at, it’s not like the radars in Bismarck, Minot, and Duluth can give us the accuracy the Mayville site can regarding severe weather warnings, especially around Grand Forks and northward.
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The radar will have to be offline because it’s a complete overhaul. Having the radar offline for extended periods of time really isn’t anything new.
UND has a radar that can and has been used as back up, although it isn’t in operation 24/7 like the NWS radars are.
The NWS knows what they are doing.
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