Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/central-alabamas-primary-radar-falls-silent-ahead-of-severe-storm-threat/
Central Alabama NWS radar down after hardware failure ahead of expected severe storms – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
Birmingham, Ala. – Technicians scrambled Wednesday morning after Central Alabama’s main National Weather Service radar suffered a sudden hardware failure, leaving meteorologists without their closest eye on the sky just as powerful storms approached.[1][2] The outage at the KBMX site in Calera heightened concerns in a region already bracing for severe weather later in the day.
Hardware Failure Hits Critical Radar Site
The WSR-88D Doppler radar, known as KBMX and located at Shelby County Airport near Exit 234 off Interstate 65, went offline due to the unspecified hardware issue.[2] National Weather Service teams immediately began diagnosing the problem, with replacement parts ordered on an expedited basis.
Officials provided no firm timeline for restoration, noting only that repairs remained underway.[3] This comes at a precarious moment, as the radar typically offers the most detailed, real-time views of precipitation and storm rotation for the Birmingham NWS office’s coverage area.
Severe Storms Poised to Test Monitoring Systems
A level 2 to 3 risk out of 5 for severe thunderstorms blanketed much of Central Alabama, with threats materializing as early as the afternoon.[4] Forecasters highlighted potential for tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, hail the size of quarters, and heavy rainfall that could spark localized…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-05-06 17:27:00
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