Storm Watch in Alabama Without Main Radar

A big weather radar at Birmingham’s National Weather Service office has stopped working because of a hardware glitch. The loss happens right when the state expects heavy storms on Wednesday afternoon and into the night. The office still has to keep its eyes open for danger, but it can rely on other radar stations nearby. These include radars in Huntsville, Atlanta and Mobile, as well as military sites at Maxwell Air Force Base, Columbus Air Force Base and Fort Rucker. Technicians are on the job 24/7, pulling parts from suppliers and troubleshooting to bring the Birmingham radar back online. Even if it doesn’t return in time, other tools—satellites, surface sensors and lightning detectors—are fully operational.

Because the main radar is down, the Birmingham office warns people to use multiple alert channels: NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts and trusted local news outlets. They also remind residents to review their storm safety plans before the expected showers arrive. The radar that is offline, called WSR‑88D BMX, sits at Exit 234 off Interstate 65 in Calera. The region remains “well‑covered” by seven other WSR‑88D radars that can still feed data to meteorologists. The office will keep the public posted on the radar’s status throughout the day, ensuring that any needed watches or warnings are issued promptly.

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