WSR-88D: Still the best and getting better

The Nation's network of Weather Surveillance Radar 1988, Doppler has been operating for about 15 years. The NEXRAD Program approach since the radars were first deployed to avoid obsolesce issues has been to execute a continuous modification/retrofit program to improve the WSR-88D reliability and maintainability, and meet new mission requirements. These modifications and the addition of new computer and signal processing hardware, and improved radar meteorological science has resulted in over 110 WSR-88D network-wide modifications. As a result, the WSR-88D of today is “state of the art” and in our opinion has been and continues to be the best S-band weather surveillance radar in the world – and getting better

This poster and accompanying extended abstract will summarize the major milestones in the growth of WSR-88D capabilities through the years. We will also present plans to continue WSR-88D operations beyond 2020.