Maintenance Work on NWS KIND Radar Through October 16

NWS Indianapolis 88D Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) - Pedestal (October 2023)

The KIND WSR-88D doppler radar operated by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Indianapolis, Indiana, will be down and offline through about October 16 for an important upgrade. Technicians will refurbish and replace the pedestal, one of the most critical components of the radar, which is necessary for antenna rotation and positioning to capture data in all directions. The components are extremely heavy and will require the radome to be removed by crane and then replaced by crane when the work is completed. Note that once this project begins, the radar cannot be turned on until the work is complete.

The radar and pedestal were designed to last 25 years, and this radar has exceeded its lifespan. This activity 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 our nation’s radars viable into the 2030s. NOAA’s National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, and the Federal Aviation Administration are investing $135 million in the eight-year program. The Service Life Extension Program will be completed in 2023. Below is a time lapse of the replacement at IND from October 8, 2023.

A major part of this round of upgrades to the radar was completed today; KIND has a new pedestal! Next up is putting the insides back together. #INwx pic.twitter.com/LvOpN9aV6q
— NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) October 8, 2023

Below are news stories from when the dome was originally put in place in 1993. Stories are used with permission from the respective television stations.

WSR-88D Radar Network

The 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, including the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).