Alabama is the birthplace of the new Lifesaver Radar from Action 8.
Enterprise Electronics Corporation, established in 1971, has been offering radar and satellite solutions to businesses globally. The Climavision radar system was developed at EEC’s facility in Enterprise.
Tara Leigh Goode, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Radar Operations at Climavision, emphasized the significance of merging data from the weather service with hyper-local technology to provide a comprehensive view. “It is incredibly impactful,” she stated.
Action 8 Chief Meteorologist Shane Butler presented the X-Band radar on Monday, which is situated close to the Alabama/Mississippi state line. This radar system will now be incorporated into our weather forecasts and is an advanced technology that provides ten times more resolution than the current radar systems.
In West Alabama, there exists a zone known as the “radar gap” which lacks sufficient coverage from government radars. The main reason behind this is the distance of the radars, causing their beams to shoot high into the clouds due to the Earth’s curvature. This phenomenon may result in the possibility of missing tornadoes, putting numerous lives in danger.
Up until now, the issue of insufficient radar coverage has been a topic of discussion for years, with many individuals expressing their desire for an improved solution. However, no concrete solution had been provided until recently.
Residents of areas like Selma and Montgomery will benefit from this radar as it provides an initial look at approaching storms, even in radar gap zones. The National Weather Service will also have access to the data gathered, which will allow for improved watches and warnings in our region.
