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Off-Ramp

Inside NBC 4's insane new doppler weather radar truck

By Off-Ramp Staff
Published Sep 22, 2016
NBC Los Angeles recently purchased of state-of-the-art truck with a mobile Doppler radar attached to the back. They named it Storm Ranger.
NBC4 recently purchased of state-of-the-art truck with a mobile Doppler radar attached to the back. They named it Storm Ranger.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
"We have nine microclimates in Southern California," says Fritz Coleman, weatherman for NBC Los Angeles. "Every one of those microclimates has their own specific needs."
"We have nine microclimates in Southern California," says Fritz Coleman, weatherman for NBC4. "Every one of those microclimates has their own specific needs."
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Doppler is a common method of tracking weather using microwave signals. Unlike traditional radars, doppler radars can track the velocity and direction of a storm.
Doppler is a common method of tracking weather using microwave signals. Unlike traditional radars, doppler radars can track the velocity and direction of a storm.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Scott Meadows, a photographer for NBC Los Angeles, drives the Storm Ranger mobile Doppler radar truck.
Scott Meadows, a photographer for NBC4, drives the Storm Ranger mobile Doppler radar truck.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The radar can also be used to track smoke plumes from brush fires. It's first fire was the Blue Cut fire in the Cajon Pass.
The radar can also be used to track smoke plumes from brush fires. It's first fire was the Blue Cut fire in the Cajon Pass.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The station called the investment "significant" but wouldn't say how much it all cost — the radar itself retails for around $650,000.
The station called the investment "significant" but wouldn't say how much it all cost — the radar itself retails for around $650,000.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The truck's onboard technology includes a state-of-the-art doppler radar, five computers, six screens, five keyboards and the ability to transmit real time weather data from anywhere in Southern California.
The truck's onboard technology includes a state-of-the-art doppler radar, five computers, six screens, five keyboards and the ability to transmit real time weather data from anywhere in Southern California.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

About the Show

Over 11 years and 570 episodes, John Rabe and Team Off-Ramp scoured SoCal for the people, places, and ideas whose stories needed to be told, and the show became a love-letter to Los Angeles. Now, John is sharing selections from the Off-Ramp vault to help you explore this imperfect paradise.

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Inside NBC 4's insane new doppler weather radar truck

Did you hear? It rained this week. And last week, too. September's showers marked the first rain to touch down in Los Angeles County since May.

Covering the weather in Southern California is serious business.

NBC4 recently upped its game with the purchase of a brand new, state of the art truck with a mobile Doppler radar attached to the back. Maybe you've seen the ad:

NBC Storm Ranger ad

Doppler, by the way, is a common method of tracking weather using microwave signals. Unlike traditional radars, doppler radars can track the velocity and direction of a storm.

NBC named the new truck "StormRanger" and the onboard technology is intense: a state of the art doppler radar, five computers, six screens, five keyboards and the ability to transmit real time weather data from anywhere in Southern California.

The station called the investment "significant" but wouldn't say how much it all cost — the radar itself retails for around $650,000, though. Why drop that kind of coin? Especially in a city where rain is so rare?

"We have nine microclimates in Southern California," says Fritz Coleman, weatherman for the station. "Every one of those microclimates has their own specific needs. It could be sunny and 112 degrees in Palm Springs but raining really hard with a potential for mud slides in a burn area in Santa Barbara."

Coleman says the StormRanger will give NBC a leg up on other affiliate stations — the station can cover dramatic weather events quicker and with more precision. Plus, they can run promos like the one above.

And even though it's brand new, the truck's been put to good use covering a cloud of a different kind: smoke plumes from brush fires.

"We gave it its inaugural run up at the Blue Cut Fire up in Cajon Pass," says Coleman. "One of the beauties of the sensitivity of this Doppler is that we can track smoke, and we can track the intensity of the fire."

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