Nashville Nexrad Down For Major Upgrade

Beginning on August 1, 2022, the WSR-88D operated by the National Weather Service in

Nashville, TN 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 components are extremely heavy and will require the radome to be removed

by crane and replaced when the work is completed.

This video shows the process of dome removal during 2019 at NWS Pendleton. This is process the Nashville radar is undergoing this week.

The radar and pedestal were designed to last 25 years, and this radar has exceeded its lifespan. This activity 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, a series of upgrades that will keep our nation’s radars viable into the 2030s.

NOAA’s National Weather Service, the United States 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

Service Life Extension Program will be complete in 2023.

During the downtime, adjacent radars will be available, including: Hopkinsville, KY (KHPX),

Morristown, TN (KMRX), Hytop, AL (KHTX), Columbus, Mississippi (KGWX), and TDWR

Nashville (TBNA). For direct access to any of these surrounding radar sites, visit the

following web page: https://radar.weather.gov/

The KOHX 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. North Alabama's KHTX will undergo the same upgrade in the coming weeks.