Intermittant Biorka RADAR outages from August 5th Through August 17th.

Contacts:

Don Moore, (Acting) Meteorologist in Charge
Donald.Moore@noaa.gov, 907-790-6804

Joel Curtis, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
Joel.Curtis@noaa.gov, 907-790-6803

August 1, 2019

Beginning August 5, the Biorka Island WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar (site ID, PACG) operated by the
NOAA National Weather Service in Juneau, Alaska will experience intermittent outages during the
next two weeks for the refurbishment of the transmitter. Although the form, fit, and function of
the transmitter will remain the same, old breakers and cables original to the radar will be
replaced with modern fuses and new cables. This will help keep the 20-year-old radar operating
smoothly for another 20 years.

This transmitter update is the second major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension
Program, a series of upgrades and replacements that will keep our nation’s radars viable into the
2030’s. NOAA National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, and the Federal Aviation
Administration are investing $150 million in the seven year program. The first project was the
installation of the new signal processor. The two remaining projects are the refurbishment of the
pedestal and equipment shelters. The Service Life Extension Program will complete in 2022.

During the downtime, access to the other radar sites in Alaska can be found at
https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/alaska.php

The PACG 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 Juneau, Alaska can be found on social media at @NWSJuneau.