Cheyenne Weather Service Radar Gets Upgrade

The radar used by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Cheyenne will be down for about five days next week to allow technicians to install an upgrade, according to Rob Cox of the Cheyenne office of the weather service.

Cox says the crew will install a new signal processor which will replace obsolete technology, improve processing speed and data quality, provide added functionality and support IT security.

Cox adds that the bottom line is that forecasters will be able to better see incoming storms and make better decisions in terms of issuing weather alerts and other weather statements.

While the Cheyenne radar is down next week, its duties will be covered by Weather Service radars in Riverton, Rapid City, North Platte, Boulder and Grand Junction. The work is scheduled to start on Monday, October 16th. It will be the first of four major upgrades over the next five years.

The total cost of the upgrades will be about $150 million. The three organizations that use the radars--the Weather Service as well as the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration--will all help cover that cost.