KSRX WSR-88D in Fort Smith Will Be Taken Off-Line for Maintenance Beginning Monday, October 24th

Severe Thunderstorm and Heavy Rainfall Potential Continues

A low pressure center tracking across the Great Lakes and its associated cold front extending across the Southern Plains will focus occasional showers and thunderstorms through tonight. A few of these thunderstorms may become severe alongside heavy rainfall that may cause flash flooding; Portions of the Southern Plains would be the greatest threat for these hazards through tonight. Read More >

...KSRX WSR-88D WILL BE TAKEN OFF-LINE FOR MAINTENANCE BEGINNING MONDAY OCTOBER 24TH... BEGINNING MONDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, THE KSRX WSR-88D OPERATED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, WILL BE DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS FOR AN IMPORTANT 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 RADAR AND PEDESTAL WERE DESIGNED TO LAST 25 YEARS, AND THIS RADAR HAS EXCEEDED ITS LIFE-SPAN. THIS MAINTENANCE IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE RADAR FUNCTIONING FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS OR MORE. THE PEDESTAL REFURBISHMENT IS THE THIRD MAJOR PROJECT OF THE NEXRAD SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM (SLEP), A SERIES OF UPGRADES THAT WILL KEEP OUR NATION'S RADARS VIABLE INTO THE 2030S. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THE U.S. 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 FOURTH PROJECT WILL BE THE REFURBISHMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT SHELTERS. THE SLEP WILL BE COMPLETE IN 2023. DURING THE DOWNTIME, ADJACENT RADARS WILL BE AVAILABLE, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING WSR-88DS AND TDWRS: KINX IN INOLA, OK; KSGF IN SPRINGFIELD, MO; KLZK IN LITTLE ROCK, AR; KSHV IN SHREVEPORT, LA; KFWS IN FORT WORTH, TX; KTLX IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA; TTUL IN BROKEN ARROW, OK. FOR DIRECT ACCESS TO ANY OF THESE SURROUNDING RADAR SITES, VISIT HTTPS://RADAR.WEATHER.GOV THE KSRX 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. CONTACT FOR ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS RADAR UPGRADE CAN BE DIRECTED TO: STEVEN PILTZ, METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE STEVEN.PILTZ@NOAA.GOV 918-838-7838 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA, OK CAN BE FOUND AT WEATHER.GOV/TULSA, AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT TWITTER.COM/NWSTULSA AND FACEBOOK.COM/NWSTULSA