WVTM 13 Live Doppler Radar

[South AL Wx]

For those of you in the central Alabama TV market, it looks like WVTM 13 is debuting a new Doppler radar tomorrow night. It is a little surprising to me as WVTM 13 always seems to be behind the curve when it comes to severe weather coverage. But it will be interesting to see how their coverage changes with the new radar.

More info:

http://www.wvtm13.com/article/wvtm-...me-storm-tracking-for-central-alabama/9560227

http://www.wvtm13.com/article/wvtm-...nniversary-of-deadly-tornado-outbreak/9559504

 

[Richardjacks]

Glad to see they are doing this...the old Enteriprise radar that was installed around 2005 when NBC owned the station was not maintained by the previous station owners. This will likely be a game changer the next time storms are moving 50+ mph compared to Nexrad full volume scans that are several minutes old.

 

[Fred Gossage]

SAILS/AVSET allows us to get an 0.5 deg slice as fast as every 1.75 minutes during severe weather now... but you still can't beat a live sweep that updates any one location as fast as every 30-45 seconds, like some of those Baron radars. Very interested in the specs of the new radar, and hoping they keep the FasTrac/VIPIR display systems from Baron and/or start using the Lynx system.

I may be associated with WBRC still on a volunteer basis... but I can happily say that I have always liked 13... and I'm happy to see them advancing forward, even if it means competition for my group

 

[Richardjacks]

I would bet money that if things go crazy tonight that it will debut early.

 

[Fred Gossage]

I wonder if this is maybe a step toward them possibly eventually showing velocity, correlation coefficient, etc., on air. I know a lot of that is consultant driven, but the other Hearst severe weather market stations, like KOCO, KCCI, KMBC, etc., get to do it.

 

[Meteorologist Bobby Best]

Since we're on this subject and especially after reading Richard's post about the old Enterprise radar, that wasn't kept up, by previous owners, that brings to mind this question, that I guess being in the radio (as opposed to TV) market, just never heard... What ever became of 33/40's radar that they bragged and boasted so much about for so long that, if memory serves, was located on Double Oak Mountain?

Back to 13's new radar though. It is for sure a great TV publicity stunt, though with The Columbus NEXRAD located where it is and the NEXRAD across I-65 from The Shelby County Airport, Personally, I think I would have placed it in a more Northern, maybe even ever so slightly East of due North.....

I would have thought somewhere in Northeastern Tuscaloosa County or maybe some portion of Fayette County would have been better! Placement in one of those areas, would have given it good fore-Warning placement for the Birmingham Metro area, while not being to close to either of the NEXRAD radars mentioned above....

That's just my two cents worth, I am far from being an engineer, as well as far from having the education in the geo-sciences that I'm sure some of those involved in this new "toy" of WVTM's placement were.....

I'd still love to hear from anyone that might know, what happened to 33/40's live radar that they use to use and brag so much about, that I believe use to be located on top of Double Oak Mountain? Does anyone have any idea what became of 33/40's old live radar??? Thanks in advance for your information on this question that I've wondered about for years.....

 

[StormForce]

I would like to know the specifics about the 13 live Doppler. Such as is this a one million watt radar? Any ideas about any other wx upgraded in Birmingham market?