INDIANAPOLIS (WTHI) - A doppler radar tower operated by the National Weather Service and used by many in central Indiana is going offline for an important upgrade.
The KIND WSR-88D radar is expected to be down from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6.
The NWS office in Indianapolis said technicians will refurbish and replace the pedestal, which is a critical part of the radar. It's needed to capture data in all directions.
The equipment is extremely heavy, so a crane will be needed to remove and replace the radome when the work is done.
The NWS said this radar has exceeded its lifespan, which was designed to last 25 years. The upgrade will keep the radar running for another 20 years or more.
The pedestal refurbishment is part of a series of upgrades that will keep our radars in the United States running into the 2030s. The NWS, U.S. Air Force, and Federal Aviation Administration are investing $135 million in the program.
Surrounding radars will be available during the outage. You can find access to them here.
