Early Operational Successes of the University of Louisiana Monroe’s Polarimetric S-band Doppler Radar Journal of Operational Meteorology

In October 2016, the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) began operating a polarimetric S-band Doppler weather radar to help close the low-level radar coverage gap across northern Louisiana by increasing the quantity of data sampled below 3.0 km AGL. Data are delivered in near-real time to local National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices to help meteorologists accomplish their mission of protecting life and property. The inclusion of ULM radar data into NWS operations has led to improved detection of severe and hazardous weather across northern Louisiana. This paper details how the ULM radar has been incorporated into NWS operations, the improvement in operational radar coverage, and the challenges of using a non-NWS radar in the NWS operational setting.