National Weather Service in Melbourne gets Dual-Polarization radar

Offers better flash flood and hurricane warnings

Current map of Dual-Polarization upgrades at NWS offices across country. Melbourne is one of the first.
Photographer: Kait Parker, WPTV
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Posted: 01/11/2012

By: Kait Parker

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- The Treasure Coast and Okeechobee County just got a bit more high tech. The National Weather Service in Melbourne is currently installing their Dual-Polarization radar upgrade, one of the first in the country, and meteorologist’s squeals of joy can be heard across the state.

An upgrade to Dual Polarization means that instead of looking at the atmosphere (and any impending rain) in merely a horizontal direction, it also sends out waves in the vertical, providing meteorologists with a better image of weather events.

What this means for residents is a more accurate and timely warning for flash flooding and hurricanes.

Although the nine new impressive capabilities of this radar will not be made available on the National Weather Service website until 2013, the “Dual-Pol” radar will be operational later this week for use with Storm Team 5. Every National Weather Service Field office will undergo this transition over the next year or so, with Florida finishing up before the end of March, and more importantly, in time for the 2012 Hurricane Season.

Check out a photo gallery of Meteorologist Kait Parker's visit to the National Weather Service in Melbourne

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