BoM radar for the Wimmera??? Can only hope so...

[Paul Yole]

Hey All,

 

Made front page news on the Wimmera Mail Times this morning... Can only hope it happens...

 

http://www.mailtimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/wimmera-development-association-campaigns-for-realtime-weather/2280773.aspx

 

Wimmera Development Association campaigns for real-time weather

BY AMELIA ELLISTON

05 Sep, 2011 09:52 AM

WIMMERA Development Association is campaigning for real-time weather data for the Wimmera.

Association executive director Jo Bourke said the association was creating an economic business case to show why real-time weather data was essential to reducing economic losses caused by unpredicted weather events.

"We have had some consultation with the Bureau of Meteorology and identified while they understand the issue of poor weather data in the region, it is a competitive process to get more equipment and improve services," she said.

"We are competing with places like the Darling Downs, Far North Queensland where there are cyclone issues and the North-West Shelf in Western Australia, where the gas fields are.

"From our discussions with the bureau it was obvious they didn't have a clear understanding of real-time weather data and the impact on agricultural practices here, for example, the ability to spray chemicals, harvest, hay making and even some livestock management."

Ms Bourke said the region had experienced weather extremes in the past 12 months that proved better weather services were needed.

"The experiences of the past 12 months, particularly in the Grampians where they had 200 millimetres in 24 hours, showed we don't have real-time rain data access and now that there is a need to plan for potential evacuations in severe weather occurrences, it is critical we get that information," she said.

"It will also be really useful for GWMWater in managing reservoirs, particularly for flood events to maximise the movement of water in the system.

"And for organisations such as the CFA and the Department of Sustainability and Environment, having real-time data around the peak fire period would be really useful.

"The other issue is for small aircraft; weather services to air services is critical."

Ms Bourke said submissions for the business case were needed by September 15 and interested people could call the association on 5381 1744 to get a submission pack.

"This is not just specifically to get another radar but more importantly real-time weather information. With improved technology there are other options we are interested in trialling in the region to give us a proper analysis of the data and improve access to the data," she said.

[Clyve Herbert]

would be a good idea....and another radar at Broken Hill would be nice...Clyve H

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[Tony Langdon]

I'd certainly like to get a better idea of what's headed this way from the west! :)

73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL
http://vkradio.com

[Marcus Wintels]

good work

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[Marcus Wintels]

Yep.  would have been able to forcaste XTC Anthony's rainfall strength with one there

[Max McDowall]

I too have noticed for several years that Wimmera and Grampians rainfall is poorly detected on the existing radar network, and worked out that a likely site for a future radar would be at the exocentre of the triangle formed by the Melbourne, Mt Gambier and Yarrawonga sites, somewhere between Horsham and Warracknabeal.  Mt Arapiles also comes to mind, but it might not serve the Stawell-Ararat region optimally because of the Grampians.   Also, I wonder whether there would be problems with an elevated location with interference from surface features - mere conjecture.

The Radar Network and Doppler Services Upgrade Project page on the BOM website does not currently foreshadow any new radar locations in Australia, although we can well suppose that the bureau has a future wish list for them when funds become available,

Max McDowall

[Laurier Williams]

I understood the funding for new radars was now exhausted.

 

Another region of significant agricultural and pastoral activity not well covered by radar is central western NSW (where I just happen to live!). Less than a third of the region is on the edge of Sydney and the new Namoi radars, and even that only captures rain falling well above ground level because the beam is way above us.

 

Laurier

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[Harald Richter]

Hi Max, Laurier,

 

The RNDSUP project Max mentioned drew to a close a while ago, but a new project,

the Strategic Radar Enhancement Project (SREP) is currently active.

 

http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/radar/about/srep.shtml

 

Four new radars (I think they are all Doppler) will be rolled out to Hobart, Wollongong,

Mt Isa and Waruwi (NT).  The radars are set up with a basic rain gauge network, allowing

the calibration of radar-derived rainfall.

 

Harald

 

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From: aust...@googlegroups.com [mailto:aust...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Laurier Williams
Sent: Thursday, 8 September 2011 00:05
To: aust...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [austpacwx] Re: BoM radar for the Wimmera??? Can only hope so...

[Laurier Williams]

Still off topic (sorry), thanks Harald. The map on that link shows the areas of economic imporance not covered by radar quite nicely. The Central Wheat Belt of WA is probably the most glaring gap in terms of size, though central western NSW runs a close second.