New Doppler Radar Installed

NWIASpotter · #1 Postby **NWIASpotter** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:16 pm

What was great news not only for radio station KICD and its affiliates. It is also great news to all communites in northwest Iowa, and any chasers that may be in the KICD listening area. KICD previously used an older version radar that was very useful to all in the area, and was known as the best weather in northwest iowa, southwest minnesota. A new DRS Technology doppler radar was installed about a month ago and is now fully operational.

Here is the story as listed on KICD:

Doppler Radar Installation
A joint project of KICD and Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Doppler Radar was installed at the KICD Studios the week of November 15th.
KICD has had weather radar since 1958 and now in 2004 leads the way with the first northwest Iowa Doppler Radar.
Following are shots of the conversion of the old system to the new Doppler.
KICD Chief Engineer Joe Schloss, Meteorologist Mark Bruggom and a DRS Technologies representative made the installation. (copyright KICD)

NWIASpotter · #2 Postby **NWIASpotter** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:17 pm

The old radar scope now has been moved from the weather room to a new home at the Parker Museum. This type of scope has been used by KICD for many years. Here is a picture of it:

This is the radar that I had run during this last summer's severe weather... You used an acrylic overlay that had the map of the region printed on there. And then with the use of water soluble pencils, you could trace the storm and there was your radar image!!!

NWIASpotter · #3 Postby **NWIASpotter** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:18 pm

The new radar images will be displayed on a computer screen such as this. This is a Doppler image of wind coming into the Spencer radar (blue) and the winds moving away from the radar site (red). This will be very useful to pick out rotation in thunderstorms.

© 2004 KICD.

A sample picture of the velocity data:

NWIASpotter · #4 Postby **NWIASpotter** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:20 pm

For more pictures on the installation visit the KICD website... http://www.kicdam.com/KICDAM1240/PhotoA ... ?ID=4,7308

NWIASpotter · #5 Postby **NWIASpotter** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 4:00 pm

How many other radio stations do you know that have their own radar? Yet alone their own DOPPLER radar??

Tornado_Chaser2005 · #6 Postby **Tornado_Chaser2005** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:27 pm

Los Angeles Eyewitness News, Channel 7 has their own system, and its great.

NWIASpotter · #7 Postby **NWIASpotter** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:36 pm

Yes, I'm assuming that their is a lot of tv stations that have their own radar... Beings they can show it over the tv.. But, how about a radio station.. I mean you can't show it over the radio, so some might say it is useless... I personally believe this is one of the first ever doppler's put into a radio station in the nation... which is a great thing for everybody involved in weather...

michaelwmoss · #8 Postby **michaelwmoss** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 10:35 pm

No doubt about it. Truly a step forward in helping people prepare for severe weather

tallywx · #9 Postby **tallywx** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:50 am

Why spend all these resources on a doppler radar for NW Iowa when you all have good NWS NEXRAD coverage already? It's not like Iowa is particularly mountainous, forcing you to fill in a "radar gap" with a system of your own. If this is the case, then as a marketing tool, sure the doppler has benefits. But in terms of being a major breakthrough in severe weather safety for that region....that's stretching it. You can get level II data for cheaper...hey, you can get it for free.

michaelwmoss · #10 Postby **michaelwmoss** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:21 am

I think we can agree to disagree on this one. The more protection, the better. Sure there are marketing qualities to this, no doubt.

If it were up to me, I'd have a dopper radar on people's houses as well

New Doppler Radar Installed

New Doppler Radar Installed

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