The National Weather Service (NWS) is developing the Radiosonde Replacement System (RRS) to replace its antiquated Micro-ART system which has been in operation since the late 1980s. The RRS is comprised of a new GPS tracking antenna referred to as the telemetry receiving system or TRS, 1680 MHz GPS radiosondes, and a new NT-based workstation. In addition to the deployment of the RRS, a new surface-based system and precision digital barometers will be deployed at 88 locations from the Caribbean to Guam and from Alaska to Pago Pago, American Samoa, in the Southern Hemisphere. An update to the strategy for deploying and commissioning these systems will be discussed in the paper as well as their impact on the meteorological community as the transition takes place.

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the National Weather Service.