Arcadia, Ohio – On Wednesday, Oct. 14, a cutting‑edge X‑band dual‑polarization Doppler radar built by Climavision was installed atop the town’s water tower in northeastern Hancock County. The 155‑foot‑high installation is designed to fill a long‑standing radar blind spot that has left portions of northwest Ohio vulnerable to missed low‑level weather threats.
Why the new radar matters
Existing NWS radar sites in Cleveland, Detroit and northern Indiana provide excellent coverage, but the curvature of the Earth causes their beams to overshoot the lower atmosphere in parts of our region. That limitation can hide snow squalls, rotating storms, tornadoes and heavy rain until they are already impacting communities.
Riley Pfeiffer, Project Manager and Meteorologist for Climavision, explained that the new system’s 60‑mile range and dual‑pol technology will allow the 13 First Alert Weather Team to see low‑level features such as rotation and snow showers “like never before.” He added that the radar’s high‑resolution data will give residents “more up‑to‑date information, more accurate information, and you’ll really see the full picture of any type of weather headed your way.”
Technical details
The radar sits inside a 12‑foot‑diameter radome that protects the eight‑foot‑wide dish and its electronics. The X‑band frequency provides finer detail than the longer‑range S‑band radars used by the NWS, making it especially useful for detecting hazardous conditions that develop close to the ground.
According to a coverage map from the National Weather Service, the existing radar beams reach over 6,000 feet in parts of the area and can climb to nearly two miles high, leaving a gap at lower elevations. The new Arcadia radar will plug that gap, delivering continuous low‑level data to the entire community.
Community impact and cost
Climavision’s installation is a no‑cost project for the city of Arcadia and Hancock County. “This is a no‑cost project to the community, so it’s not costing the city or the county a dime,” Pfeiffer said, emphasizing the public‑safety motive behind the effort.
The radar is the 34th unit Climavision has built nationwide and the first in Ohio. The company plans two additional radars in the state – one in far western Ohio and another east of Columbus – to create a statewide network that ensures every community has reliable, low‑level weather data.
Timeline
Testing and quality‑control checks are expected to take 30 to 45 days before the radar goes fully operational. Once live, viewers can watch 13 Action News for high‑resolution radar imagery and alerts.
Looking ahead
By bolstering the existing National Weather Service network, the Arcadia radar exemplifies a partnership between public agencies and private innovators focused on protecting families and preserving the safety of our neighborhoods. Residents can expect earlier warnings for severe weather, giving them more time to seek shelter and protect property.
For updates on the radar’s activation and real‑time weather information, tune in to 13 First Alert Weather on‑air or online.
Original reporting: 13abc WTVG Toledo (news) — read the source article.
