Missing link in flood protection
22/06/2007
A proposed £1 million weather radar station in the North East will provide a missing link in national radar coverage and give further flood protection in the region.
Severe flooding in recent years, and the effect of climate change, has prompted the Met Office, Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency to install the region’s first weather radar in High Moorsley, near Sunderland.
The improved rainfall data will enable the Environment Agency to warn people in the North East of potential flooding more quickly and accurately reducing the risk of damage, distress and even loss of life. The data will also be used by Northumbrian Water to gain a better understanding of the impact of rainfall on its 17,000 km sewerage network.
People are invited to drop-in and find out more about the proposed North East weather radar and raise any questions or concerns they may have at a customer information session which is being held on Wednesday, 27 June 2007 at the Wheatsheaf Inn, 49 Moorsley Road, Houghton-le-Spring between 3.00pm and 8.00pm.
The High Moorsley site has been chosen to install the weather radar station for its central location in the North East to provide the best possible record of rainfall.
Jacqui Cotton, from the Environment Agency, said: “We welcome the proposed North East weather radar which will significantly improve our ability to predict when and where rain is likely to fall and will enable us to give more accurate and timely flood warnings. We estimate that more than 70 communities across the region are at risk of flooding and will directly benefit from the improved data the radar will provide.”
Northumbrian Water’s Technical Director, Colin Price, said: “The proposed North East weather radar is a positive step towards further protecting customers in the region from flooding and it will also help us adapt to the impacts of climate change. The data will also aid in the design of sewerage network improvement schemes and assist with the prioritisation of work.”
Martin Ward, Radar Network Development Project Manager for the Met Office, said: “Information from weather radar is a vital component of a successful forecast and is crucial when it comes to issuing warnings of heavy rainfall events. Extending and developing the weather radar network means we can continue to improve our services to the community as a whole.”
A planning application will be submitted to Sunderland City Council next month and it is hoped that construction of the weather radar station will begin in January 2008 and take up to four months to complete. For further information download a copy of the weather radar leaflet.
ends
For further information contact Cara Hall, Northumbrian Water, on 0191 301 6720, Jacqui Cotton, Environment Agency, on 0113 231 2020 and Martin Ward, Met Office on 01392 885 516.