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Town Hall Meeting: Current Status and Preparation for the National Weather Service Dual-Polarization Radar Upgrade

Conference Program
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Monday, 23 January, 12:15–1:15 P.M.; Room 245

The operational radar network for the United States (currently the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler, WSR-88D) is in the midst of a transition to dual-polarimetric capabilities—the nation’s largest upgrade to its weather radars since the early 1990s. Dual-polarimetric technology is expected to improve rainfall estimates, data quality, and the identification of precipitation type and storm structure. These advances are expected to improve the detection and short-term prediction of high-impact events, such as tornadoes, hail, heavy rain, and winter storms. To fully utilize these new capabilities and achieve these critical improvements, forecasters and users will need to properly interpret dual-polarimetric radar products and develop new expertise in their applications. The AMS Board for Operational Government Meteorologists is sponsoring this Town Hall Meeting to discuss the status of the national radar upgrade, emphasizing forecaster and end-user preparation for these new capabilities. Discussions will provide users with an update on the status of the nationwide upgrade, as well as an opportunity for a question and answer session emphasizing the operational use of the system in forecasting and warning applications.

For additional information, please contact Andrew Molthan (e-mail: andrew.molthan@nasa.gov; tel: 256-961-7474).