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Tropical Depression Nine in the Gulf of America; California October Heat Wave Continues

Tropical Depression Nine is forecast to track toward the central U.S. Gulf Coast while strengthening into a tropical storm by early Wednesday and a hurricane on Thursday. Stay tuned to forecast updates. Much higher than typical October temperatures will continue across much of California through midweek. Temperatures are forecast to gradually cool beginning Thursday in Coastal California. Read More >

The Doppler weather radar used by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Marquette (MQT) will be out of service for approximately four days beginning Monday, October 3, 2016, for technicians to install an important technological upgrade.
 
During the outage, radar coverage is available from adjacent radar sites including Duluth, MN (DLH), Green Bay, WI (GRB), and Gaylord, MI (APX).
 
A crew will install a new signal processor, which replaces obsolete technology, improves processing speed and data quality, provides added functionality, and supports IT security.
 
This is the first of four major upgrades, known as service life extension projects, planned in the next five years to replace and refurbish major components of the 20 year old WSR-88Ds and to keep the radars operational into the 2030s. The $150M investment is being made by the three organizations that use these radars, the NOAA National Weather Service, United States Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration. The other service life extension projects include refurbishing the transmitter, pedestal, and equipment shelters.