National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heavy Rainfall and Severe Thunderstorm Threats for the Plains and Southeast

A frontal boundary extending from the western High Plains to the Southeast will focus additional showers and thunderstorms this weekend. Some of these storms may become severe, alongside frequent lightning, and isolated instances of flash flooding. Meanwhile dry conditions will continue for the Great Basin where fire weather concerns linger. For the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, seasonable weather. Read More >

What is it?

The KFTG WSR-88D radar operated by our office, NWS Denver/Boulder will be down for approximately 7 days for the replacement of the generator, fuel tanks, and accompanying components. This is important to support the radar's operation during periods of commercial power outages, specifically when hazardous weather is present. This generator update is the forth major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program, a series of upgrades and replacements that will keep our nation’s radars viable into the 2030’s.

When will it take place?

The KFTG radar will be down for approximately 7 days starting August 25th.

Where will I get my radar data?

During the downtime, adjacent radars include Denver Terminal Doppler Radar (TDEN), Cheyenne (KCYS), Grand Junction (KGJX), Pueblo (KPUX), and Goodland (KGLD). For direct access to any of these surrounding radar sites, go to the following web page: https://radar.weather.gov/ The KFTG 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. For a radar mosaic loop of the Central Rockies: https://go.usa.gov/xuSyS 

How can I contact the office if I have questions?

The National Weather Service in Boulder, Colorado can be found on social media at: NWSBoulder on Facebook or @NWSBoulder on Twitter. or email us at nws.boulder@noaa.gov