Wheatbelt radars offline for service works
13/08/2018
The three wheatbelt radars at Newdegate, South Doodlakine and Watheroo will go offline for approximately two weeks at a time from the 14th August to 28th September, for routine service works that will maintain and enhance their operational capabilities.
The radars are three of five Bureau of Meteorology Wurrung radars in Australia to undergo an update in 2018.
The digital upgrades will update and standardise the radars to the latest system configuration bringing the radars into a common, consistent configuration that will improve ongoing performance and reliability, extend the life of the radars, and simplify ongoing maintenance.
"This update to the wheatbelt radars involve digital upgrades that we will undertake regularly during their 30-year lifecycle," Acting State Manager, Todd Smith, said.
"We are constantly improving our technology and equipment for weather services across Australia, and as you would expect with anything you buy or invest in, it needs to undergo routine services and updates as new technology or parts become available.
"This is all part of ensuring we provide the best service possible to the communities in the wheatbelt."
The radar service has been planned for August and September as this is outside of the harvesting period in the wheatbelt.
During the upgrade forecasters will continue to draw on observations from a range of sources including satellites, automatic weather stations and flood warning networks.
Members of the public can receive up-to-date forecast information via MetEye (www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye).
