National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Dual-Polarization Upgrade for Goodland Weather Radar Has Begun

Modifications to upgrade the National Weather Service Doppler radar serving northwest Kansas, eastern Colorado, and southwest Nebraska to dual-polarization have begun. Dual polarization radar technology can better detect heavy rainfall in flooding events, improve hail detection in thunderstorms, and improve classification of precipitation types such as rain, snow, and ice. It can also detect the presence of airborne tornado debris, giving forecasters a higher degree of confidence that a damaging tornado is occurring. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Goodland are currently being trained on how to interpret the new radar data.  Click here for further information about dual polarization radar.

Installation of dual polarization radar at Goodland will continue through approximately December 9, 2011. During the upgrade adjacent National Weather Service radars will provide coverage since the Goodland radar will be out of service. These radars are located near Dodge City, Pueblo, Denver, North Platte, and Hastings.