JACKSON — NWS Jackson’s Brandon/Jackson radar is officially offline. It was supposed to go offline for a major upgrade on February 13 but the project was postponed until Friday due to the threat of severe storms Wednesday and Thursday.

The upgrade will take about two weeks to complete as technicians will replace and refurbish the radar’s pedestal which is essential to the rotation of the radar’s antenna. The pedestal’s components are heavy and will require a crane to remove.

Radars and pedestals are designed to last 25 years according to a press release from the NWS Jackson office. However, this upgrade will add another 20 years to its lifespan. It is also the final major project of the NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program.

The series of upgrades are to keep the country’s radars online until 2030. NOAA, NWS, United States Air Force and FAA have invested $135 million in the program in the last eight years.

During the downtime, adjacent radars will be available, including: Columbus AFB, MS (KGWX), Mobile, AL (KMOB), Slidell, LA (KLIX), Fort Polk, LA (KPOE), Shreveport, LA (KSHV), Little Rock, AR (KSHV), and Memphis, TN (KNQA). For direct access to any of these surrounding radar sites, visit the following web page: https://radar.weather.gov/

Brandon/Jackson’s radar is one of 159 radars nationwide.

Tornadic activity

Strong winds damaged property in the Little Bahalia community in North East Lincoln County Thursday during an outbreak of severe weather. NWS Jackson has not confirmed if there was in-fact a tornado there. The last tornado survey listed was from February 8 in Simpson County.

Heavy rainfall accompanied Thursday’s storm. NWS Jackson reported 2.99 inches of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Culverts, streams, low lying areas and the mighty Bayou Pierre flooded yesterday evening. These bodies of water should start to fall over the next few days but more rainfall is expected Tuesday.