Phase 1 Software Installation

Cyclops-D3 was rolled-out to the whole network during winter 2010-2011.

Phase 2 Resilience/Doppler Upgrade

This includes the installation of the new Transmitter. Work is currently underway and will roll out one upgrade per month going forward. Each upgrade requires the radar to be non-operational for one to two weeks to allow for the upgrade and testing before it can be returned to the network. The Phase Two schedule is expected to run as follows:

Phase 3 Infrastructure Upgrade 

This phase addresses the Health & Safety requirement to fit stairs to the top of the tower at all sites and will carry out structural repairs where needed. Each site will be non-operational for between six to eight weeks to address these requirements. The first tower upgrade has been completed at Wardon Hill (the semi-operational site) in preparation for the radar upgrade. Further sites will be upgraded with each Phase Four roll out over the next two to three years. The phases have been combined to reduce the total down time of each radar as much as possible.

Phase 4 Dual Polarisation Upgrade 

This involves the installation of a new dual channel receiver, dual polarisation antenna and high specification radome. The required outage time for this work is two to three weeks. Wardon Hill is currently being upgraded to dual polarisation. After this point the full radar system will be performance tested prior to the first operational site upgrade at Thurnham, currently scheduled for April 2012. The rest of the sites will follow over the next three to four years. The current proposed schedule is:

If you would like to speak to the Water team about any of the planned work during the Weather Radar Network Renewal Project please email water@metoffice.gov.uk