Farmers and residents in Ceduna will now have access to more reliable and up-to-date weather information, with the Bureau of Meteorology making significant upgrades to the Ceduna radar.

Over the past two months a new digital receiver and control system for the Ceduna radar has been installed. The work has now been completed on schedule.

Bureau spokesperson Cindy Cassidy said the improvements to the radar will benefit the local community, including those working in agriculture, aviation, resources and tourism.

“Weather information is incredibly important for local residents, farmers and industries as well as for tourists visiting the region.”

“As a result of the upgrade, the Ceduna radar will show more accurate rain images and have a greater ability to track winds, detect tornadoes and monitor intense rainfall during storms.”

The new data will also help emergency services make more informed decisions to keep the community safe.

“Bushfires can be devastating for regional communities like ours. The new technology in the Ceduna radar will make us more aware of fire-generated thunderstorms and show the height of fire plumes.”

Images from the radar can now be seen on the Bureau’s website and on the BOM Weather app.

The Ceduna radar upgrade is part of an Australian Government project to upgrade or replace the Bureau’s entire radar network. By June 2024, the Bureau of Meteorology will deliver seven new radars, plus upgrades to 46 radars, nearly 700 automatic weather stations and 200 flood warning network assets.