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+--- Thread: Any news regarding South Point radar? (/showthread.php?tid=17188)
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Any news regarding South Point radar? - Kiana - 05-07-2016
We've been missing the South Point radar which has been out for weeks. The last message stated "Down until further notice". Does anyone have information on this?
Seems unacceptable with hurricane season beginning in a few short weeks. We really rely on it all season long to watch the approach of storms. Any suggestions for who best to contact if we don't see it again soon?
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - freespirit - 05-07-2016
Yes has been down for a couple weeks have been wondering what is up with it ourselves?
Any info anyone?
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - TomK - 05-07-2016
I checked the Hawaii NWS radar site which is supposed to provide updates on radar status, but there was nothing I could find for the south point radar. I've dropped a line to someone at the MKWC to see if they know anything, but am unlikely to get a reply until Monday. I'll let you know if I hear anything relevant.
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - Amrita - 05-07-2016
I've been here for 15 yrs. now and it seems to me that this happens every year prior to hurricane season, offline for maintenance??? Apparently no redundant backup.
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - TomK - 05-08-2016
Now the Molokai radar is out of service. At least the NWS have sent a status message for that one.
"NWS PHMO NEXRAD OUT OF SVC DUE TO COMM PROBLEMS. TECHS TROUBLE
SHOOTING."
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - PrismaticMenehune - 05-09-2016
> We really rely on it all season long to watch the approach of storms. Any suggestions for who best to contact if we don't see it again soon?
If you're relying on the South Point radar to prepare for an incoming hurricane, you won't be afforded enough time. You can track storms well in advance here: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/. There are also sites that provide the spaghetti model storm track graphs: http://www.cyclocane.com/ (seems like a solid site though I'm wondering if anyone has any other recommendations).
That being said, I miss the radar too, if only because I've been obsessively checking it for rain during this drought.
Aloha.
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - Kapoho Joe - 05-09-2016
I will never understand how and why this vital piece of data just goes silent with nary a whimper, save a few postings on a community BBS.
Is this service not utilized by enough people? I find it invaluable for 'seeing' into the near future of precipitation. Do I have 30 minutes to set that item outside to dry? Should I take a walk now or wait until the next clouds roll through? And so on and so forth.
Who owns/operates this radar? Do they need parts?
Criminy!
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - Ino - 05-09-2016
Know your Radar
When you look at the South Point Radar you are not getting the whole 360 degree picture. Most of East Hawaii, where most people live is only covered by radar at a 10k foot level. As small as it may seem this lack of coverage couldn’t be at a much worse place for the people who want to see what weather is coming their way by looking at the weather radar.
The lack of coverage unfortunately happens in an area that the majority of the time is the direction most of our weather comes from-NE. Many of the weather processes happen below 10k so I believe the radar is of limited use here. At least be aware of what you’re missing and is not being covered.
You can see for yourself what the radar coverage is at your house by clicking on this map. Click on the Zoom Out button located on the Middle Left of this map until Hawaii shows up;
http://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/map/viewer/#app=cdo&cfg=radar&theme=radar&display=nexrad
Double click on the Big Island. Double click all the way until you get to your house. Now click on the Best box to show radar level coverage at 4k- this is the Best radar coverage, the Better box for radar coverage level at 6k and the Fair box for radar coverage level at 10k.
These boxes are under the Layer heading in the upper right side to show the radar coverage at your house. If you don’t see any shading then you don’t have weather radar coverage over your house..
With this map you can do this anywhere in the USA to determine the quality of the radar coverage at that location.
While I’m happy to have what we have I think it’s important to know it’s limitations. I’ve lobbied for a better radar location-ITO or Hilo International Airport. I tried to set up a field tour to the radar station in Kau but they couldn’t figure what we would want to see.
Funding is an issue and hard to argue that we need it when the chances of severe weather here are low. There are some technological breakthroughs coming and it’s possible that land based radar could become obsolete.
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - Kiana - 05-09-2016
Mahalo to all for additional links and info. We do use those other hurricane monitoring site, so valuable. But we also use the South Point radar several times a day, too, for near future planning as Kapoho Joe mentions. The limited radar coverage that Ino describes still serves a good purpose locally. I will be curious to see if TomK receives a response from the MKWC contact.
RE: Any news regarding South Point radar? - TomK - 05-09-2016
I got a reply but they didn't know what the problem was either. However, the radar appears to be operating again.