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UPDATED: 4:15 pm EST, January 6, 2009
NEW RADAR SYSTEM IN FLORIDA TO HELP MILLIONS WHEN THE NEXT HURRICANE HITS
If you live anywhere along the coast where hurricanes are a threat, then you know the importance of radar. No one has a better radar system now than does BayNews9 in Pinellas Park, Florida. In fact, there is no other radar like it in the world. Quoting from their website:
Klystron 9 is the most advanced, most powerful, highest resolution broadcast weather radar in the world. Our revolutionary technology leads the way in providing you with the most accurate weather forecasts in the Bay area.
I talked with BayNews9 chief meteorologist Mike Clay via email today and he tells me that in regards to tropical cyclones, "we hope to be able to see deeper into tropical systems, see the eye or center better, and penetrate through tropical rain-bands." This will help to better prepare Floridians for the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes more so than ever before.
In addition to the benefits of better "seeing" during tropical cyclone events, Clay gives a great description of the day to day uses of the one-of-a-kind Klystron:
"Klystron 9 gets it’s name because it is the first and only TV station radar to use a stable and powerful Klystron tube. We didn’t want to call it Doppler because it is so much more and goes beyond Doppler. Klystron 9 is not only a Doppler radar but also has Dual Polarization and Pulse Compression technology. We have a new radome with less signal lose and higher wind resistance. Our new radome also removes water from the surface more efficiently to cut down on rain attenuation due to heavy tropical rains here. Our range for reflectivity is 300 miles ( just like other radars) but we are already seeing rainfall better than our old radar and other similar radars in Florida. Our Doppler range has gone from 50 miles to 150 miles, so we get live wind velocity data for our whole area and well into the Gulf."
I think it is fair to say that the folks at Baron Services, who built the radar, as well as the entire weather team at BayNews9, will have an extraordinary opportunity to not only inform and warn the public with this tool, but also to learn more than ever before about the weather that affects Florida- even on a daily basis, much less during extreme conditions such as a hurricane.
To learn more about this exciting innovation that has come to the Tampa Bay area, click the link below.
Below is our Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone tracking map. When an active tropical cyclone exists, the map will be activated so that you may click on it and/or mouse over the symbols for more information. During periods of no activity, the map will serve to point out areas of interest that may develop. This information is based primarily on National Hurricane Center data but may reflect additional information based on computer model output. We do not make our own forecasts but will point out areas of potential development. All of the information will be compiled using either official information from the NHC or computer model data suggesting development beyond the 48 hour time period of the NHC Tropical Weather Outlook.
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