National Weather Service for Austin and San Antonio doing work on radar

AUSTIN, Texas - Local doppler radars are an integral part of severe weather coverage for meteorologists in Central Texas and provide crucial weather information when it's needed.

This week and next the National Weather Service for Austin and San Antonio will be doing some important work on their radar.

Tomorrow they'll be lifting the dome off the radar to replace the pedestal which is basically like the work horse of the radar.

It's the first time the dome has been lifted off since the radar was installed in 1995.

The work being done is part of the Service Life Extension Program which is a coordinated effort between the National Weather Service and the U.S. Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The hope is that with this kind of maintenance, along with work expected in the future, the radar will remain operational well into the 20s and 30s.