The site selection for two new Doppler radars in North Queensland is currently underway by the Bureau of Meteorology.
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Two Doppler radars were announced for North Queensland in the 2019-20 Federal Budget after the monsoonal flood in February, highlighted a blackspot from Julia Creek to Hughenden.
The radar locations were announced as Flinders catchment near Maxwelton and Upper Burdekin between Hughenden and Charters Towers.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said they were conducting a detailed inspection of potential sites to ensure adequate power, communications and access was available, as well as completing testing to ensure optimum radar performance and coverage.
"Once we have potential sites, the Bureau's team will open negotiations for leases for these sites," the BOM spokesperson said.
"Finally, our radar supplier will come and install the radar equipment into the shelter and tower so we can bring the site on line."
The new radars are expected to become operational between 2021 and 2023 and bring large benefits to the region.
"These benefits will include improved rainfall rate measurement for use in flood warning operations; more accurate calculation of accumulated rainfall and soil moisture; better short-term forecasting of rainfall and severe weather, the development of hail identification; and enhanced tracking of wind changes, benefiting aviation as well as emergency services," the BOM spokesperson said.
"These regions have important agricultural and mining industries and are subject to highly variable and extreme weather, particularly heavy tropical rainfall and severe thunderstorms.
The new radars will allow people in more areas of Queensland to monitor weather in real time via the Bureau's website and the BOM Weather app. Dual-polarised Doppler radars offer significant benefits."
The Australian Government committed $77.2 million to install and operate four new dual-polarised Doppler radars to fill significant coverage gaps in Queensland. Darling Downs (near Oakey), southern Queensland (near Taroom) were the other two radars listed.
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
