081 
NOUS41 KBUF 220921
PNSBUF

Public Information Statement 
National Weather Service Buffalo NY 
521 AM EDT Mon Apr 22 2019

...KBUF WSR-88D RADAR WILL BE OUT OF SERVICE THIS WEEK...

Beginning Monday April 22, the KBUF WSR-88D radar operated by the 
NOAA National Weather Service in Buffalo, New York will be down for 
approximately five days for the refurbishment of the transmitter. 
Although the form, fit, and function of the transmitter will remain 
the same, old breakers and cables original to the radar will be 
replaced with modern fuses and new cables. This will help keep the 
20-year-old radar operating smoothly for another 20 years.
 
This transmitter update is the second major project of the NEXRAD 
Service Life Extension Program, a series of upgrades and 
replacements that will keep our nation's radars viable into the 
2030's. NOAA National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, 
and the Federal Aviation Administration are investing $150 million 
in the seven year program. The first project was the installation of 
the new signal processor. The two remaining projects are the 
refurbishment of the pedestal and equipment shelters. The Service 
Life Extension Program will complete in 2022.
 
During the downtime, adjacent radars include: Cleveland, Ohio 
(KCLE), Binghamton , New York  (KBGM), Montague, New York (KTYX), 
State College, Pennsylvania (KCCX), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (KPBZ). 
For direct access to any of these surrounding radar sites, go to the 
following web page: https://radar.weather.gov/index.htm 

The KBUF WSR-88D is part of a network of 159 operational radars. The 
Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, provides lifecycle 
management and support for all WSR-88Ds.
 
For a radar mosaic loop of the Northeast U.S.: 
https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/northeast.php) The National 
Weather Service in Buffalo, New York can be found on social media at 
https://www.facebook.com/NWSBuffalo and https://twitter.com/NWSBUF 

  For additional information contact:

Contacts: 

Judy Levan, Meteorologist In Charge 
Judith.Levan@noaa.gov      716-565-0204 x222 

Mike Fries, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
Michael.J.Fries@noaa.gov   716-565-0204 x223

$$

JL/TMA