West Plains, MO. – The National Weather Service in Springfield, Missouri will be performing upgrades on their radar over the next two weeks. The WSR-88D Radar and pedestal were designed to last 25 years and it has exceeded its life-span.
The refurbishment should keep the radar functioning for at least another 20 years. The pedestal refurbishment is the third major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program. The National Weather Service, the U.S. Air Force, and the F.A.A. are investing $135 million in the eight year program. The first project was the installation of the new signal processor and the second project was the refurbishment of the transmitter. The fourth project will be the refurbishment of the equipment shelters. The refurbishment program is expected to be completed next year.
While the Springfield Radar is down, adjacent radars will be available, including: Kansas City, Wichita, Tulsa, Little Rock, Paducah, and St. Louis. For direct access to any of these radar sites, visit radar.weather.gov
