KUDX Radar Is Back in Service

Update 9/3/2021 - 1000 AM MDT: Workers have completed the radome repair, so KUDX radar is operational once again. We appreciate everyone's patience during the last three weeks.

Update 8/30/2021: Repairs to the radar dome continue, but are nearing completion. The radar is expected to return to full service by the end of this week.

August 15, 2021: 

The Rapid City National Weather Service’s WSR-88D Doppler Radar near New Underwood will be shut down to replace the radar dome (radome) beginning Monday, August 16 for approximately two weeks.

About 70 to 80 percent of the 70 radome panels were damaged by a severe thunderstorm that produced tennis ball sized hail and 80 mph wind gusts on July 8. Because so many panels were damaged, technicians will rebuild the entire 40 foot diameter radome that sits on the top of the 100 foot tower.

Once the project is started, the radar will not be turned on again.  “The new radome is necessary to protect the radar dish and sensitive electronics.  If another thunderstorm hit the radar, the dome could collapse or rain could enter the dome and cause much more serious damage”, described Rapid City Electronics Systems Analyst Pat Baye.

“We waited to do this work until after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally so we could use the radar for thunderstorms that could affect many people outdoors. Our thunderstorm season is starting to wane, and the forecast for the next couple of weeks is for below normal precipitation.  Our forecasters can monitor any storms that do develop with satellite data, ground station observations, and our spotter network,” explained Rapid City Meteorologist-in-Charge David Hintz.

During the repairs; images from the Bismarck, ND; Aberdeen, SD; North Platte, NE; and Cheyenne, WY NWS radars are available at:  https://radar.weather.gov/.  The North Dakota State Water Commission radar in Bowman, ND can be viewed at http://swc.nd.gov/arb/loop.phtml?radar=bowman.

The Rapid City WSR-88D is part of a network of 159 operational radars across the United States and its territories.

Pictures of the Rapid City Doppler Radar from the outside and inside the radome.