NWS La Crosse Radar Down For Another Round Of Upgrades

The NWS La Crosse, WI Doppler radar will be down to replace the generator, fuel tanks and accompanying components. We expect to have the radar back in operation by April 1st. This work is part of the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) which is a series of upgrades and replacements that will prolong the life and viability of the radar into the 2030’s.

The La Crosse radar site originally went online in 1996 with a designed lifespan of 25 years. The SLEP program is necessary to keep the radar functioning for another 20 years or more. The 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 and the second project was the refurbishment of the transmitter. The third was replacement of the pedestal. SLEP is expected to be completed in 2023.

During the downtime, adjacent radars will be available, including:

The radar cannot be brought back online during any potential severe weather during this time period.

The La Crosse Doppler radar is part of a network of 159 operational radars known as WSR-88Ds. The Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma provides lifecycle management and support for all NWS radars.