SLEP Radar Upgrade 1/3/24 through 1/17/24

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1121 AM CST Thu Dec 14 2023

ï»¿...National Weather Service Announces Radar Outage During Major
Upgrade...

Contacts:

Todd Beal, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
todd.beal@noaa.gov, 901-544-0399 x 223

Darone Jones, Meteorologist-In-Charge
darone.jones@noaa.gov, 901-544-0399 x 222


December 14, 2023

Beginning January 3, 2024, the KNQA WSR-88D radar operated by the
NOAA’s National Weather Service in Memphis, TN, will be down for
approximately two weeks 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 replaced when the work is completed.

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 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 completed in 2024.

During the downtime, adjacent radars will be available, including
Memphis Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TMEM), Little Rock, AR
(KLZK), Columbus Air Force (KGWX), and Paducah, KY (KPAH). For
direct access to any of these surrounding radar sites, go to the
following web page: https://radar.weather.gov.

The KNQA WSR-88D is part of a network of 159 operational radars.
The Radar Operations Center in Norman, OK, provides  management
and support for all WSR-DDS.

The National Weather Service in Memphis, TN, can be found on
social media at facebook.com/NWSMemphis and
twitter.com/NWSMemphis.

The number of pedestals completed to date is 148 of 167.

$$