–Emergency Management leaders from across Northern Iowa are teaming up to educate everyone from elected officials to the public on the need for upgraded weather radar coverage in the area. Parts of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota are too far from the nearest National Weather Service radar for accurate images, meaning instances of severe or extreme weather can be occurring in the gap area while NWS Meteorologists are unaware due to the lack of accurate imaging. Kyle Bissell serves as the Emergency Management Coordinator in Humboldt County, and he spoke with KLGA News following a presentation in Algona Friday morning.
Parts of Kossuth, Emmet, Palo Alto, Winnebago, and Worth counties see the biggest gaps in radar coverage. Bissell talked about some of the weather events that can occur in our area that can’t be seen accurately by NWS radar coverage from Des Moines, Sioux Falls of Minneapolis.
Bissell says they are seeking support from the federal government to help fill the radar gap in one of three ways. The first would be to add a new NEXRAD radar to the area, which is less probable due to its $350-Million price tag. A second option would be to add 2-3 C-band weather radars in the area, which cost around $1.5 million apiece. The third option would be to assist a private company called Climavision, as they already have plans to install 3 X-band radars in the area.
Bissell says the radar gap isn’t unique to northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, as other areas are dealing with the same problems and seeking solutions.
The group of Emergency Management leaders has drafted letters to our representatives in Washington in an effort to gain their support for better and more accurate weather coverage in our area.
