Forecast Operations at the Regan Test Site - Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

RedTown Technical Services, LLC (RTSLLC) of Norman, OK provides the Meteorological Support Services for the Reagan Test Site located on Kwajalein Island in the Republic of the Marshall Islands through a contract with the US Army. The Reagan Test Site is an important asset used for conducting missile defense testing. The missions associated with this testing sometimes have stringent meteorological requirements. Kwajalein Island is a unique location regarding meteorological data acquisition and the provision of weather forecasting services. With the exception of the Guam National Weather Service (2500 km WNW), there is not another location within a 4000 km radius of Kwajalein at which Doppler weather and radiosonde data are collected. The Kwajalein area, which is dominated by trade winds and the Intertropical Convergence Zone, provides a significant forecast challenge. Meteorological services are provided 24/7 using meteorological staff on Kwajalein, along with forecast support from RTSLLC offices in Huntsville, AL and Norman, OK. Forecasting services include daily forecasts for the Marshall Islands area along with requirements driven, highly specialized forecasts for mission activities. This presentation will provide information on the meteorological instrumentation network and forecast responsibilities of this unique Pacific island location.