AFOS MESSAGE CONCERNING WICHITA RADAR

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: AFOS MESSAGE CONCERNING WICHITA RADAR
• From: General Support <support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 09:58:09 -0600

Posted: Wed, Sep 30, 1992   6:03 PM EDT              Msg: LGJC-5398-1570
From:   C.ALEX
To:     MSD.NWS(REC), L.MILLER.UCAR(REC)
Subj:   AFOS MESSAGE CONCERNING WICHITA RADAR         
 
I sent the following message on AFOS this afternoon.  
 
[For the MSD chiefs:  please share this message with the radar focal points in 
your region.]
 
ZCZC WSHPNSWSH ALL
TTAA00 KWSH DDHHMM
 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
200 PM EDT WED SEP 30 1992
 
ATTENTION:     ALL NWS EMPLOYEES, FAMILY OF SERVICES SUBSCRIBERS,
               NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE SUBSCRIBERS,
               OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCT USERS
 
                       ***** NOTICE *****
 
With the construction and subsequent activation of the WSR-88D
(NEXRAD) system at Wichita, Kansas (station identifier ICT), the
NWS will be required to turn off the WSR-57 radar.  The WSR-57
currently in operation at Wichita is only 120 feet away from the
WSR-88D.  Because of this proximity, interference problems would
result if both were to operate simultaneously.
 
     1.   During the erection of the radar tower and installation
          of the antenna and radome this past summer, the         
          existing WSR-57 radar was operated only when the        
          PARAMAX (WSR-88D contractor) crew was not working on    
          the tower.  The crew worked generally during daylight   
          hours.
 
     2.   With the Field System Test beginning in late September,
          the WSR-57 in Wichita will only be operated if the      
          WSR-88D radar experiences an outage and weather is      
          present.  The WSR-88D will be operated continuously at  
           this time and is expected to be commissioned for       
           official operations in late winter at the earliest.
 
     3.   Even if the Wichita WSR-57 or the WSR-88D are not
          operating, complete radar coverage of the Wichita       
          weather area will be provided by the following          
          operational radar sites: 
 
          Concordia, Kansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Monett,
          Missouri; Grand Island, Nebraska; Garden City, Kansas;
          and Topeka, Kansas.  
 
NOTE: Advance notice has already been provided to users currently
connected to the Wichita WSR-57.  Anyone wishing further
information concerning this change in radar operations should
contact Gary Foltz at (816) 426-3226. 
 
 
END