Norman Techs Work To Get NWS Doppler Radar Back Online Following Hurricane Damage

It has been just over a week since Hurricane Laura made landfall on the Louisiana coast. 

Winds within the storm were strong enough to blow a nearby National Weather Service doppler radar right off its tower in Lake Charles, LA. 

A group of technicians from the NEXRAD Radar Operations Center (ROC) in Norman have been in Lake Charles figuring out what can be salvaged. 

ROC is responsible for keeping the government’s network of doppler radars in operation. 

Hurricane Laura’s 132-mile-per hour wind gusts were no match for the Lake Charles radar site. 

“The radome’s are structured to withstand up to 124 miles per hour of sustained winds,” said Michael Miller, Chief of Operations at NEXRAD’s Radar Operations Center. “The caveat of that is anything flying through the air, any debris, if it hits that radome, that will destroy the integrity.” 

The over 20,000 lb pedestal from the doppler radar, which is standing, must be removed. Engineers need to look at the tower’s structural integrity. 

Traveling in Lake Charles is making things tough. 

“Those crane companies may be busy trying to help shore up large buildings within Lake Charles itself,” said Miller. “So, we will be competing for those resources.” 

The good news, nearby National Weather Service radar sites in Houston and Slidell, LA can cover for the time being. 

Home to one of the most powerful television doppler radars in the country, News 9 Chief Meteorologist David Payne and our team of KWTV engineers have a plan if Next Gen Live were to ever take a direct hit from a storm. 

“We would be able to get the parts in that we need to put this thing back up and get it running,” said David Payne. “Especially during spring where we use it seems like every other day.” 

Crews are in overdrive getting the Lake Charles radar site back online as hurricane season is far from over. 

“This is kind of the scenario that you plan for, hope you never have to deal with, but you plan for,” said Miller. 

The team of Norman technicians left Lake Charles Thursday. When they arrive back to Norman Friday, they’ll figure out what’s next for the radar site.