New Doppler Radar System To Improve Storm Tracking In Southeast Oklahoma

Oklahomans in the southeast part of the state will soon have better tools to track severe weather. The city of Durant has been awarded a grant for a new doppler radar system, which will help meteorologists not only there but hundreds of miles away.

The city of Durant and the surrounding areas are in what is called a "doppler radar dead zone." This means the closest radar sites surrounding the area are more than 100 miles away. The beams are so far that it does not provide very good storm details.

It is an issue that has been ongoing for several years, and there have been some safety concerns. Tornadoes in both 2016 and 2019 in the town of Blue, Oklahoma were not fully detected by radar until the storm was fully formed.

People died in both storms in Blue, which is about 10 miles east of Durant. Last year, lawmakers took action and included a $1.6 million grant into the state's budget for 2021. The money will allow the city to install a radar site to broaden coverage in that area.

News on 6 Meteorologist Stephen Nehrenz said the National Weather Service and others are excited and ready for the new site. "A new radar down there is going to be a huge benefit for giving all meteorologists some much better view of a thunderstorm, analyzing rotation, analyzing the severity of a storm. It's going to make things a lot easier, a lot more accurate," said Nehrenz.

Durant's emergency manager said there have been some delays, but they expect the site to be finished in September.