STORM2K

Last night, Fox 26 here in Houston unveiled their new polarimetric, or dual polarization, radar system.

These systems are scheduled to be implemented by the NWS in the coming years.

Cecilia Sinclair last night said they are partnering with the NWS here in Houston so that they will also have access to this new technology.

Here's my question - how will the NWS in Houston use this radar? Will they have their own workstation for the radar so they can view any products they want? Will they be able to adjust the sweep mode (the fastest is 6 times a minute)?

The Fox website here is just a palceholder, so there is no information. I can't find anything about this on the NWS website or on Google. Anyone out there know more information about this? Thanks.

This might help with what it can do, I haven't found anything Houston specific.

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/briefings/vol5_no3.pdf

http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~schuur/radar.html

Dual-pol radars will allow several improvements to the NWS radars when they are finally implemented (late 2007?). The installation of these systems should be complete in all of the NWS's radars by the end of this year. The system will allow for several improvements, the most notable of which (IMO) will be the actual determination of precipitation type in winter storms. The CIMSS site above has a very good explanation of the dual-pol system and all of its features.

As to their deal with NWS Houston, I'm sure they'll have full access to the products, but I don't know (or even have a guess) who would actually have physical control over the radar.

when will the 1st pictures be available?

fact789 wrote:when will the 1st pictures be available?

I dunno. They showed the radar on TV last night but they don't have it posted on their web site. They really don't have a true website, just a single page.