New Toowoomba weather radar
A new weather radar for the Darling Downs is now live with real-time rainfall observations and other tools to help farmers, families and business owners prepare. DETAILS.
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Toowoomba has received a new weather radar, adding further weather observations and coverage to the region’s west and southwest.
Images from the radar can now be seen on the Bureau of Meteorology’s website and app, a press release from BOM said on Thursday.
“The new radar will enable improved flood forecasting and better planning during severe weather event for the travel industry and Condamine, Moonie and Border Rivers catchment communities”, the senior responsible officer for Qld, Dr Peter Stone said.
The radar brings more situational and weather awareness to local communities in the northern parts of the Moonie and Border rivers catchment, the upper Condamine River catchment, and mining and resources area near Chinchilla, he said.
One part of a comprehensive weather network, the radar adds to improving and understanding weather and real-time rainfall observations as well as helping warn communities of severe weather, a statement from the BOM said.
A better understanding of the weather aids both real-time and forecasts and has vast benefits, allowing agriculture, transport and tourism industries to make better decisions, not just on a day-to-day or seasonal basis, but also when preparing for severe weather.
Farmers will also benefit from the radar, giving more accuracy over forecasts, and finetuning decisions around movement of stock, use of chemicals or fertilisers, and sowing and harvesting.
Power stations, irrigation systems, transportation, and aviation operators will also benefit from the radar and understanding it brings the weather systems.
“While radars are important tools, the Bureau’s forecast and weather warning service is resilient and not dependent on any one piece of equipment,” the statement from BOM said.
“In 2023 the Bureau of Meteorology has undertaken significant work to improve Queensland radar infrastructure.
“In addition to the new Toowoomba weather radar, the Bureau has upgraded the Brisbane (Marburg), Cairns and Mackay weather radars.
“The new Toowoomba radar is last of 4 new radars built in Queensland as part of a $77.2 million commitment by the Australian Government.
“The Richmond, Greenvale and Taroom radars were completed between 2021 and 2022.
“The Toowoomba radar is one part of a comprehensive weather observation network of more than 11,000 assets including satellites, upper atmosphere monitoring, automatic weather stations, ocean buoys and flood warning networks.”
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