Shreveport Radar Is Down For Two Weeks

Beginning on Wednesday, January 3, the KSHV WSR-88D, operated by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana, will be down for up to two weeks for a significant upgrade. Technicians will refurbish and replace the pedestal, one of the most critical components of the radar, which is necessary for antenna rotation and positioning to capture data in all directions. The components are weighty and require the radome to be removed by crane and replaced upon completion.

They designed the radar and pedestal to last 25 years, and this radar has exceeded its lifespan. This activity is necessary to keep the radar functioning for another 20 years. The pedestal refurbishment is the third major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program, a series of upgrades that will keep our nation’s radars viable into the 2030s.

NOAA’s National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, and the Federal Aviation Administration are investing $135 million in the eight-year program. The first project was the installation of the new signal processor, the second was refurbishing the transmitter, and the third was the refurbishment of the equipment shelters. The Service Life Extension Program will be complete for our office in early 2024 after the refurbishment and replacement of the radar pedestal.

During the downtime, adjacent radars will be available, including Fort Worth, TX (KFWS), Fort Smith, AR (KSRX), Little Rock, AR (KLZK), Brandon, MS (KDGX), Fort Johnson, formerly Fort Polk, LA (KPOE), and Fort Hood, TX (KGRK).

For direct access to these surrounding radar sites, visit the following web page: https://radar.weather.gov/. The KSHV WSR-88D is part of a network of 159 operational radars. The Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, provides lifecycle management and support for all WSR-88Ds. The National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana, can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/NWSShreveport and on X (formerly Twitter) @NWSShreveport.