WAAY 31 Stormtracker Early Warning Radar Network

Meteorologist Carson Meredith gives a preview of WAAY 31's new StormTracker Early Warning Radar Network, the largest privately-held radar network in the country.

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Every day -- we're committed to showing you different ways the waay 31 storm tracker early warning radar network is keeping north alabama safer than ever.

Tonight, waay 31 meteorologist carson meredith explains how radar "safety gaps" have caused significant problems tracking severe weather in the past - and how north alabama's most advanced radar system eliminates those gaps with live, real-time data for every neighborhood in our area.

One of the greatest challenges for meteorologists tracking severe weather is potentially inaccurate radar data.

Part of the reason this is such a problem is due to the physical locations of radar sites.

The two closest national weather service radar sites that cover north alabama are located in hytop in northern jackson county and in columbus, mississippi.

They are strategically placed to cover large areas of the region, which gives a high-level picture of what is happening, but often misses areas in between especially when storms are lower to the ground.

The yellow circles indicate where the radar beam is 5,000 feet off the ground.

Radar data generally becomes less accurate and more noisy once the beam is more than 5,000 feet off the ground.

Areas where the beam is higher than 5,000 feet off the ground are called "safety gap areas."

A significant portion of northwest alabama, including most of lauderdale and lawrence counties, is in a safety gap area.

While this area still has radar data, it is insufficient data that has caused issues for meteorologists tracking severe storms and tornadoes in the past.

What is even more concerning is approximately 160,000 people live in this safety gap area alone, meaning the lack of accurate radar data could have significant consequences to loss of life and property during severe weather.

The waay 31 storm tracker early warning radar network addresses the safety gap area in northwest alabama and so much more.

With the introduction of all three radar sites, in muscle shoals, decatur, and guntersville, we are able to provide full coverage from state line to state line across alabama.

Each of the green circles show the 5,000 feet beam heights from our three radar sites.

With the waay 31 storm tracker early warning radar network, all of north alabama and lincoln county, tennessee are now well under the 5,000 feet beam height.

This expansive radar coverage completely eliminates the safety gaps in our area - covering every county, city, and neighborhood with clear, detailed, and precise data that other radars miss, ensuring that our team has the most accurate information to alert you in times of severe weather.

The waay 31 storm tracker early warning radar network also provides the earliest warnings for potential severe weather arriving from nearby areas.

The 5,000 feet beam heights extend across southern middle tennessee, northeastern mississippi, central alabama, and northwest georgia.

Our three radars are strategically positioned throughout north alabama so that we will receive the first data no matter which direction a storm approaches.

With the waay 31 storm tracker early warning radar network, our team will be able to provide severe weather coverage you can count on that is unparalleled in north alabama.

From the waay 31 storm tracker weather center,