Kimberley region to benefit from enhanced weather information

05/08/2022

Issued: 4pm AEST, 5 August 2022

Communities in Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing and remote communities through the central Kimberley will now have access to more reliable and up-to-date weather information with the completion of the Halls Creek weather radar upgrade.

Images from the newly upgraded weather radar in Western Australia are now live on the Bureau of Meteorology's website and BOM Weather app.

The upgrade to the weather radar includes benefits such as new capabilities of Doppler technology to track the location and strength of wind changes.

Hazard Preparedness Manager North and West, Todd Smith said the more precise data will assist the community to track rain, wind, storms and severe weather with increased confidence.

“Emergency services and local industry including aviation and resources, as well as the community, will benefit from clearer images and improved radar stability provided by the new digital receiver and control system,” Mr Smith said.

“The new technology also allows for better fire plume height estimation and detection of fire-generated thunderstorms, for enhanced information for emergency services in keeping communities safe,” he said.

The weather radar gives improved coverage for the Ord River catchment, the Sandy Desert- Mackay Basin and the upper catchment of the Fitzroy river.

The Halls Creek radar is one part of a comprehensive weather observation network of more than 11,000 assets including satellites, upper atmosphere monitoring, automatic weather stations, ocean buoys and flood warning networks.

ENDS