Las Vegas WSR-88D Radar (KESX) down for maintenance project: March 19th

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 >

Las Vegas Radar out of service: March 19th - March 23rd

Beginning March 19, the KESX WSR-88D radar operated by the NOAA National Weather Service
in Las Vegas, Nevada will be down for approximately five days for the refurbishment of the
transmitter. Although the form, fit, and function of the transmitter will remain the same, some
equipment original to the radar will be replaced with modern upgrades. This will help keep the
20-year-old radar operating smoothly for another 20 years.

This transmitter update is the second 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. NOAA National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, and the Federal Aviation
Administration are investing $150 million in the seven year program.

These upgrades are being done now to ensure the radar is capable and available during the
potentially high-impact weather experienced during the monsoon season in the desert
southwest.

During the downtime, adjacent radars include: TLAS, KEYX, KICX and KFSX . For direct access to
any of these surrounding radar sites, go to the following web page:
https://radar.weather.gov/index.htm

The KESX 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 Southwest US:
https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/pacsouthwest_loop.php

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas, Nevada can be found on social media at
facebook.com/NWSVegas/ or @NWSVegas on Twitter.

Heavy Rainfall and Severe Thunderstorm Threats for the Plains and Southeast

Las Vegas WSR-88D Radar (KESX) down for maintenance project: March 19th - March 23rd

Las Vegas Radar out of service: March 19th - March 23rd