HAMMOND, La. — The KLIX radar stood at the National Weather Service in Slidell for almost three decades. In November, it embarked on a journey west.
“Over the years, we realized there was an opportunity to move that radar farther west and just get better coverage across our entire area,” Meteorologist Lauren Nash said.
The National Weather Service spent three months transporting and reassembling the radar.
“We’re excited to get the radar back,” Nash said.
Now, it calls Hammond home. The move to Tangipahoa Parish will allow the radar to tilt lower to the ground, making things like tornadoes easier to detect, bringing southeast Louisiana the most accurate weather updates when they need them most.
“If we have the availability to make it a little better, and we can do that, then let’s do it,” Nash said.
The KLIX radar should be up and running sometime in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the National Weather Service will use radars out of Mobile, Jackson, Lake Charles, and Louis Armstrong International Airport to monitor the weather conditions.
“We just have to take it day by day,” Nash said.
With potential flooding in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday, experts say the best way to stay safe is to exercise caution.
“One of the biggest tips that we can't stress enough is that if you notice street flooding, don't drive through that,” Anna Nguyen, NOLA Ready, said. “Take an alternative route or wait until the flooding is subsided.”
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