New Doppler Radar Nearly Finished in Puerto Rico

news image
Special Stories
25 Apr 2018 7:37 PM
Extensive work continues across Puerto Rico to restore what life was like before Hurricane Maria tore through the island. One of the restorative processes has been getting a permanent doppler radar system back up and running. This tweet from NWS San Juan shows one of the final images the previous radar took before it was hit and damaged by Hurricane Maria. https://twitter.com/NWSSanJuan/status/910411954346323968 Maria's major hurricane-force winds tore the previous radar apart. The San Juan WSR-88D doppler radar after Hurricane Maria. Courtesy NWS San Juan The San Juan WSR-88D doppler radar after Hurricane Maria. Courtesy NWS San Juan The National Weather Service meteorologists had to rely on satellite data over Puerto Rico to get a sense of where the rains were. See the example of the satellite image with corresponding alert below: https://twitter.com/NWSSanJuan/status/920678001997746176 A little over a month later, a temporary radar system was installed to help forecasters track rain and thunderstorms across the island. As you can imagine, it must have been incredibly difficult to issue weather alerts for the recently-struck communities without a solid weather system such as a doppler radar. Related story: Doppler Radars up Again in Puerto Rico Related story: How Does Radar Work? Fast forward to this month where the new structure and radar dome are being assembled. The surrounding structure of the actual radar, being assembled in mid-April 2018. Courtesy NEXRADROC The new radar tower being assembled for San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico in late-April 2018. Courtesy NEXRADROC https://twitter.com/NEXRADROC/status/989127198236913664 The new radar system is expected to be completed in June, roughly nine months after Maria swept through. For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier
All Weather News
More
System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

It's getting to be that time of year! Systems

13 Oct 2026 6:15 PM
Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

13 Oct 2026 6:09 PM
Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records were broken across the central p

13 Oct 2026 5:55 PM
Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

13 Oct 2026 11:45 AM
Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

Severe weather looks to return to parts of th

13 Oct 2026 11:30 AM
Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

13 Oct 2026 12:10 AM
Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, F

12 Oct 2026 11:00 PM