WSR-74 radars were Weather Surveillance Radars designed in 1974 for the National Weather Service. They were added to the existing network of the WSR-57 model to improve forecasts and severe weather warnings. Some have been sold to other countries like Australia, Greece, and Pakistan.
Radar properties
There are two types in the WSR-74 series, which are almost identical except for operating frequency. The WSR-74C (used for local warnings) operates in the C band, and the WSR-74S (used in the national network) operates in the S band (like the WSR-57 and the current WSR-88D). S band frequencies are better suited because they are not attenuated significantly in heavy rain while the C Band is strongly attenuated, and has a generally shorter maximum effective range.
The WSR-74C uses a wavelength of 5.4 cm.Paul Sirvatka. "WSR - Weather Surveillance Radar." Radar. College of DuPage. 4 Apr. 2006 <http://weather.cod.edu/sirvatka/radar.html>. It also has a dish diameter of 8 feet, and a maximum range of 579 km (313 nm) as it was used only for reflectivities (see Doppler dilemma).
History
The WSR-57 network was very spread out, with 66 radars to cover the entire country. There was little to no overlap in case one of these vacuum-tube radars went down for maintenance. The WSR-74 was introduced as a "gap filler", as well as an updated radar that, among other things, was transistor-based. In the early 1970s, Enterprise Electronics Corporation (EEC), based out of Enterprise, Alabama won the contract to design, manufacture, test, and deliver the entire WSR-74 radar network (both C and S-Band versions).
WSR-74C radars were generally local-use radars that didn't operate unless severe weather was expected, while WSR-74S radars were generally used to replace WSR-57 radars in the national weather surveillance network. When a network radar went down, a nearby local radar might have to supply updates like a network radar.Stormtrack.org Forum 9498 NWS Lubbock received the first WSR-74C in August 1973 following widespread attention from the F5 Lubbock tornado of 1970.
128http://sysu1.wsicorp.com/unidata/intro.html of the WSR-57 and WSR-74 model radars were spread across the country as the National Weather Service's radar network until the 1990s. They were gradually replaced by the WSR-88D model (Weather Surveillance Radar - 1988, Doppler), constituting the NEXRAD network. The WSR-74 had served the NWS for two decades.
The last WSR-74C used by the NWS was located in Williston, ND, before being decommissioned at the end of 2012.
No WSR-74S's are in the NWS inventory today, having been replaced by the WSR-88D, but some of these radars are in commercial use.
Radar sites in the US
WSR-74 sites include the following two categories:Stormtrack.org Forum 10344
WSR-74C Site Commissioned DecommissionedAbilene, TX (ABI)August 27, 1977April 30, 1997Akron, OH (CAK)June 1, 1977November 15, 1995Albany, NY (ALB)July 27, 1977November 2, 1995Alpena, MI (APN)June 8, 1977December 9, 1996Atlanta, GA (ATL) Was atop the WSFO building at 3420 Norman Berry Drive October 20, 1976February 1, 1996Augusta, GA (AGS)July 1, 1976July 30, 1996Austin, TX (AUS)April 9, 1976October 13, 1995Baton Rouge, LA (BTR)October 20, 1978May 14, 1996Beckley, WV (BKW)November 1, 1977January 12, 1996Billings, MT (BIL)April 18, 1978May 30, 1996Bismarck, ND (BIS)October 5, 1978February 28, 1996Burlington, VT (BTV)Late 1977January 29, 1998Charlotte, NC (CLT)February 28, 1978September 17, 1996Chattanooga, TN (CHA)Early 1980sJune 10, 1998Cheyenne, WY (CYS)September 15, 1976April 24, 1996Cleveland, OH (CLE)August 4, 1976 Replaced a WSR-3.November 15, 1995Columbia, MO (COU)November 9, 1977 Replaced a WSR-3.June 19, 1996Columbia, SC (CAE)January 26, 1976
Replaced a WSR-1.October 25, 1995Columbus, GA (CSG)April 2, 1979April 3, 1996Columbus, OH (CMH)June 9, 1977 Replaced a WSR-3.December 1, 1995Concordia, KS (CNK)February 18, 1977 Replaced a WSR-3.November 9, 1995Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)February 1, 1976March 10, 1997Duluth, MN (DLH)1977March 25, 1997Erie, PA (ERI)August 30, 1977January 15, 2000?Fort Smith, AR (FSM)November 25, 1975 Replaced a WSR-3.July 7, 1998Fort Wayne, IN (FWA)March 12, 1976 Replaced a WSR-3.July 8, 1998Goodland, KS (GLD)June 6, 1978 Replaced a WSR-3.October 25, 1995Harrisburg, PA (HAR) Atop the Federal BuildingJune 28, 1977January 12, 1996Hartford, CT (BDL)April 1977November 2, 1995Houghton Lake, MI (HTL)February 1, 1977December 9, 1996(Doppler capability after July 1991)1977. Replaced a WSR-3.December 15, 1999? Now the ARMOR radar, still used by Local Media/NWS.Indianapolis, IN (IND)September 28, 1977February 28, 1996Las Vegas, NV (LAS)1976September 1, 1995Los Angeles, CA (LAX) On top of the Federal Building in Westwood to this day.May 15, 1995Louisville, KY (SDF)April or May 1978July 19, 1994Lubbock, TX (LBB)August 1973April 3, 1996Macon, GA (MCN)April 18, 1977April 3, 1996Madison, WI (MSN) At Madison Airport.June 19, 1979 Replaced a WSR-3May 7, 1996Marquette, MI (MQT)July 16, 1996Meridian, MS (MEI)November 2, 1976December 26, 1996Mobile, AL (MOB)October 12, 1995Moline, IL (MLI)August 30, 1977January 19, 1996Montgomery, AL (MGM) (Doppler capability after 1982)1977June 4, 1996Muskegon, MI (MKG)March 25, 1976August 13, 1996Norfolk, NE (OFK)May 14, 1976March 25, 1997North Platte, NE (LBF)November 27, 1996Omaha, NE (OVN)1977July 10, 1996Paducah, KY (PAH) At the Paducah Airport.1984February 23, 1996Phoenix, AZ (PHX)August 15, 1994Portland, OR (PDX)January 30, 1996Raleigh, NC (RDU)May 19, 1977December 22, 1995Rapid City, SD (RAP)November 4, 1996Rochester, MN (RST)April 1976January 9, 1997San Angelo, TX (SJT)October 1977April 22, 1997Savannah, GA (SAV)November 15, 1982February 11, 1997Shreveport, LA (SHV)June 1976June 5, 1996Sioux Falls, SD (FSD)1976October 4, 1996South Bend, IN (SBN)October 22, 1982July 8, 1998Springfield, IL (SPI)October 16, 1980July 30, 1996Topeka, KS (TOP)1976November 2, 1995Tucson, AZ (TUS)January 1983March 14, 1996Tulsa, OK (TUL)March 12, 1976April 5, 1995Tupelo, MS (TUP)April 1, 1983December 6, 1995Waco, TX (ACT)November 8, 1976September 13, 1995Waterloo, IA (ALO)November 19, 1976January 17, 1997Wichita Falls, TX (SPS)February 5, 1977December 26, 1996Williston, ND (ISN)February 21, 1978December 31, 2012Worcester, MA (ORH)July 2, 1976April 5, 1995
WSR-74S Site Commissioned DecommissionedAlliance, NE (AIA)June 10, 1977January 17, 1997Binghamton, NY (BGM)March 8, 1978September 26, 1995Charleston, WV (CRW) WSR-74S providing local coverageMay 16, 1977January 12, 1996Chatham, MA (CHH)May 6, 1983April 5, 1995Detroit, MI (DTW)March 9, 1984Replaced a WSR-57.November 9, 1995Fargo, ND (FAR)February 1, 1978Was a WSR-74C from Oct. 9, 1976 to Nov. 27, 1977November 27, 1996Jackson, KY (JKL)WSR-74S providing local coverageApril 1, 1981July 1, 1997Key West, FL (EYW)May 9, 1983 Replaced a WSR-57.October 20, 1998Longview, TX (GGG)March 1, 1978March 14, 1996Marseilles, IL (MMO) (Doppler capability)November 1, 1974. Replaced a WSR-57 at Chicago.January 19, 1996Memphis, TN (MEG) At East Memphis/Agricenter siteJanuary 1986. Replaced a WSR-57.June 21, 1995Patuxent River, MD (NHK) At Patuxent River NASEarly 1980s. Replaced a WSR-57 at Washington, DC.November 17, 1995Portland, ME (PWM)March 5, 1985 Replaced a WSR-57.September 13, 1995San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) WSR-74S providing local coverageFebruary 26, 1999Volens, VA (VQN/7VM)April 12, 1977December 1, 1995West Palm Beach, FL (PBI) WSR-74S providing local coverage. Became part of the national network after the WSR-57 at Miami was destroyed in Hurricane Andrew.December 17, 1980October 13, 1995
See also
References