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The UK Weather Radar Network is designed to provide continuous, real-time rainfall data over almost the whole of the UK land area and inshore waters. The data can provide valuable information for immediate emergency response in times of extreme weather conditions, as well as providing data to flood planners when managing future risk.

The current network hardware is between 10 and 25 years old. To combat the risk of obsolescence and future demands higher resolution NWP, the radar systems team based in Exeter has recently taken the responsibility to design, and supply the next generation of radar to the UK network. Designed in-house the new radar system consists of radar sub systems procured from a variety of making use of local suppliers, and integrated by the team. The new design is expected to start network rollout in January 2011.

The radar systems team also provide technical design consultancy to external customers, on radar design, site location, and network management.

Key Aims

• expanding the network to improve the coverage in North East England and South East Scotland.
• developing the next generation weather radar system.
• evaluating the value of dual polarised radar measurements.

Current projects

• Weather radar network renewal
• weather radar network expansion