The Future of Severe Weather Forecasting
Columbus, Ga (WRBL)- 14 years ago, communities were just beginning to clean up following the 2011 tornado outbreak. Today we conclude our miniseries: Dixie Alley: The Super Outbreak, by looking ahead to the future of severe weather forecasting.
Meteorologists learned a lot following 2011, but we are always looking ahead. The future severe weather forecasting is bright, with technology like phased array radar and the Warn-On-Forecast in the works.
Phased Array Radar:
NWS Birmingham Warning Coordinator John De Block explained that Phased Array Radars are a 'dish physically moving around inside that dome to stationary planes of radars with multiple radars basically in that array of radars that are out there looking at different parts of the sky.'
While it might not seem too impressive, this method would allow the radar to scan the atmosphere 5-6 times faster than our current radars….. only taking a minute.
This speed means that the National Weather Service can monitor storms in real time, leading to better accuracy, longer lead times, and less false warnings.
Our current radar network was built in 1988, and at nearly 40 years old, many often need repairs. The Phased Array Radars are suggested to save taxpayers $4.8 billion over their lifetime.
Warn-On-Forecast:
Another life-saving technology currently in the works is the Warn-On-Forecast. This is currently in experimental trials with the National Severe Storms Lab. Warn On uses real-time data to signal that a specific storm could become severe or produce a tornado hours in advance. This gives local emergency management time to put protocols in place.
The Warn-On-Forecast was used experimentally in March and was able to give emergency management a two hour heads up.
Both the Warn-On-Forecast and the Phased Array Radars will allow for better accuracy, longer lead times, and less false alarms during severe weather.
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