By Plainview Herald, Plainview Herald

Starting on Dec. 2, the Lubbock radar operated by the NOAAs National Weather Service will be down to implement a major upgrade.

Technicians will operate on KLBB WSR-88D to refurbish and replace the pedestal, one of the most critical components of the radar, which is necessary for antenna rotation and position to capture date in all directions.

The components are extremely heavy and will require the radome to be removed by crane and replaced when the work is completed.

The radar and pedestal were designed to last 25 years and this radar has exceeded its lifespan. The upgrade is necessary to keep the radar functioning for another 20 years or more.

The pedestal refurbishment is the third major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program, a series of upgrades that will keep the nations radars viable into the 2030s. NOAAs National Weather Service, the United States Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration 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 Service Life Extension Program will be complete in 2023.

During the downtime, adjacent radars will be available. These include: KMAF Midland, KAMA Amarillo, KFDR Frederick, OK (Altus AFB), KFDX Clovis, NM (Cannon AFB), and KABI Abilene (Dyess AFB).

For direct access to any of these surrounding radar sites, visit https://radar.weather.gov/.

The KLBB WSR-88D is part of a network of 159 operational radars. The Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, provides lifecycle management and support for all WSR-88Ds.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock can be found at weather.gov/Lubbock.

Link:
Lubbock weather radar to be down for 2 weeks - Plainview Daily Herald

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