The National Weather Service radar located on Dixie Beeline Highway between Pembroke and Trenton will be offline for a couple weeks beginning December 2 for necessary upgrades.
The radar is designated for Fort Campbell on the national map and helps forecasters track rain, snow and severe weather in western Kentucky and middle Tennessee.
Officials with the National Weather Service in Paducah say technicians will refurbish and replace the pedestal, one of the most critical components of the radar, which is necessary for antenna rotation and positioning to capture data in all directions.
The components are very heavy and a crane will be required to perform the work.
The work is part of a $135 million investment by the National Weather Service, US Air Force and FAA that will extend the life of America’s radar infrastructure into the 2030’s.
The Paducah, Nashville, Evansville and Memphis radars will remain in service, so the area will be well-monitored during the maintenance period.