As Communities Face Increasing Weather Threats, Cantwell, Budd Introduce Bill to Deploy Nation’s Next Generation Weather Radar

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) today introduced legislation to establish the Radar Next Program which will carry out deployment of the nation's next generation weather radar system.

"Washingtonians know firsthand how damaging atmospheric rivers and Pacific windstorms can be when weather radar coverage falls short and residents don't have enough time to prepare," said Sen. Cantwell. "This legislation builds on years of work to close radar gaps and puts us on a path toward faster, more accurate systems for today's weather threats. By planning now for the replacement of our aging radar network, we can deliver earlier warnings and stronger protection for families across the country."

"North Carolinians rely on accurate and reliable weather radar equipment, and making sure these current capabilities are maximized while we prepare to integrate the next generation of technology is vital for emergency personnel to keep folks out of harm's way," said Sen. Budd. "Given the severe storms that have impacted communities across our state, we can't afford to have coverage gaps where up-to-the-minute data isn't available because of aging technology. I am grateful to partner with Sen. Cantwell to make sure Americans have all the information they need to keep their families safe when weather emergencies strike now and into the future."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) current Doppler radar network has been in operation since the late 1980s and is approaching the end of its lifespan. The national radar network will need to be completely replaced in the 2030s, and the National Weather Service is still determining the best option for replacing the technology. Failure to plan for and build a next generation weather radar system will lead to an erosion of warning capability-including more outages, rising maintenance costs, slower detection of dangerous storms, and ultimately reduced protection for lives and property.

The Radar Next Program Act:

• Establishes at NOAA the Radar Next Program, which will carry out the planning and deployment of the next generation weather radar system in the United States.
• Directs NOAA to develop a plan to replace the aging Doppler radar network and implement the replacement plan by the end of fiscal year 2040.
• Requires the development of a phased array radar test, which can scan the atmosphere in under a minute, six times faster than current Doppler radars, detecting rapid changes in storms that allows for increased warning lead times and fewer false alarms.
• Gives NOAA the authority to contract with third parties to fill data gaps in weather radar coverage by acquiring data, services, and technologies.

The bill is another important next step to Sen. Cantwell's 5 Point Plan to bolster the United States' weather readiness, which she outlined in a letter to President Donald Trump in July of last year. In August, she introduced legislation to modernize the nation's weather communication and radio service as the country faces increasingly powerful floods, fires, and hurricanes.

The full bill text is HERE.

###