Weather radar upgrade (FOI)

​Request

Over the past couple of years the Channel Island weather radar has been upgraded.

Can you please advise:

A

What work has been undertaken on the system?

B

What is the total cost of the work undertaken?

C

Is there any payments to contractors outstanding?

D

Is the government satisfied with the performance of the new radar system?

Response

A

Major works include:

• upgrade of the radar in line with the United Kingdom Met Office (UKMO) network renewal project to incorporate the technological solution recommended by the UKMO project board

• upgrade of external infrastructure to modern day health and safety standards.

B

£678,471.76 has been spent during the last four years, of which £343,712.29 was spent in the last two years.

C

There are no outstanding payments for works completed so far. However further small works are scheduled for 2018.

D

The States of Jersey is satisfied with the performance of the new radar system, however, as with all radar there are further adjustments required to make it more efficient. For example interference is currently an issue.

The UKMO wrote a report on erroneous deletion of precipitation echoes over Jersey, which is available on line at the following link:

Erroneous deletion of precipitation echoes over Jersey