667
NOUS62 KMLB 011800
FTMMLB

MESSAGE DATE: FRI MAY 1 2026 2:00 PM EDT

...KMLB WSR-88D RADAR DOWNTIME EXTENDED INTO EARLY MAY...

THE KMLB WSR-88D RADAR OPERATED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
MELBOURNE, FL WILL REMAIN OUT OF SERVICE THROUGH FRIDAY, MAY 8,
2026. RADOME REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN ONGOING OVER THE PAST 18 DAYS;
HOWEVER, TECHNICIANS HAVE DETERMINED THAT ADDITIONAL DOWNTIME IS
NECESSARY TO PROPERLY SEAL AND WEATHERPROOF THE NEW RADOME. THIS
EXTENDED OUTAGE IS ALSO DUE IN PART TO WEATHER-RELATED DELAYS. THIS
MAINTENANCE IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM INTEGRITY OF THE
RADOME STRUCTURE, WHICH PROTECTS THE RADAR FROM HAZARDOUS WEATHER.

INTERMITTENT RADAR OPERATIONS MAY RESUME AS EARLY AS TUESDAY, MAY 5,
2026. THESE BRIEF ACTIVATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE DISCRETION OF
TECHNICIANS AND WILL BE DEPENDENT ON ONGOING WORK REQUIREMENTS. AS A
RESULT, RADAR AVAILABILITY DURING THIS PERIOD WILL BE INCONSISTENT
AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON FOR FULL OPERATIONAL USE.

DURING THE DOWNTIME, SURROUNDING RADARS WILL PROVIDE BACKUP
COVERAGE, INCLUDING: KTBW (TAMPA), KJAX (JACKSONVILLE), KAMX
(MIAMI), TDWR TMCO (ORLANDO), AND TDWR TPBI (WEST PALM BEACH). USERS
CAN ACCESS THESE AND OTHER RADAR DATA AT:
HTTPS://RADAR.WEATHER.GOV/.

$$

TOLLEFSEN