SAN ANGELO, TX – The National Weather Service office in San Angelo is undergoing a major upgrade at Mathis Field.
The weather service in San Angelo will be down throughout the week for the upgrade.
At about 8:00 a.m. Friday morning, the San Angelo Radome, the cover that protects the radar equipment, was lifted off for the replacement process of the pedestal.
The pedestal is one of the most important pieces of the radar which is required for the antenna rotation and positioning. This captures data in all directions. These components are extremely heavy and require the radome to be removed by crane and once the work is complete will be replaced.
The United States Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, and NOAA’s National Weather Service are investing $135 million into the 8 year program.
Both the radar and pedestal have exceeded their life-span of 25 years.
Refurbishing the pedestal is the third major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program. These upgrades will keep the nation’s radars going into the 2030s.
The installation of the new signal processor was the first project and the refurbishment of the transmitter was the second. The next project will be refurbishing the equipment shelter.
In 2023, the Service Life Extension Program will be finished.
KSJT WRS-88D is one in a network of 159 operational radars.
Adjacent radars in Laughlin AFB (KDFX), Midland (KMAF), Dyess AFB (KDYS), Central Texas (KGRK), Austin/San Antonio (KEWX), and Frederick (KFDR) will be available for use during the downtime.
Visit the following web page for direct access to these radar sites click HERE.
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