The National Weather Service (NWS) has announced plans to restore the Galveston NOAA weather radio broadcast, which has been down since a fire knocked out the transmitter in Hitchcock on March 25.
After months of uncertainty about the repair timeline, the NWS now expects to have a temporary transmitter in place by the end of August. This temporary setup will help restore essential weather information for the region until a permanent solution is finalized.
Temporary Transmitter to Be Installed by August 31
The NWS has confirmed that they will be installing a temporary transmitter by August 31 to resume the NOAA weather radio broadcast. This broadcast is crucial for providing continuous weather information, including warnings, watches, forecasts, and hazard updates, 24/7.
However, the new temporary transmitter won’t have the same coverage as the original, as it will be broadcasting at a lower power and from a lower antenna position on the new tower.
Although the temporary setup won’t be as strong as the previous system, it will allow the NWS to provide necessary weather updates to the community while the agency continues working on a more permanent solution.
Progress on Permanent Transmitter and Tower
The NWS is also working on installing a permanent transmitter at a new location, which will be only a few miles from the original site. While the new transmitter is on order, the agency is still in the process of conducting a structural analysis of the new tower.
Once the analysis is complete, the NWS will be able to order the necessary mounting parts and schedule the installation.
The goal is to have the permanent system up and running by September 30. However, since the tower’s new location will differ slightly from the original, the NWS has stated that there may be changes to the broadcast coverage area that will need to be evaluated once the transmitter is operational.
No Cost to the National Weather Service
The NWS has clarified that the new tower location for the replacement transmitter will come at no additional cost to the agency. The installation of the temporary transmitter and antenna is already approved, and the agency is moving forward with both the temporary and permanent solutions to restore the vital weather broadcast for the Galveston area.
While the National Weather Service works to restore full coverage with a permanent transmitter by the end of September, the temporary setup should help provide much-needed weather information to the region by the end of August.
With the structural analysis of the new tower underway, residents in the area can expect improved coverage once the permanent system is installed.
