2013-01-28 (IPMA)
A big project aiming at the installation of a weather radar system in the north of Portugal is in force. The weather radar will located in Pico do Gralheiro (Arouca) and will allow an effective
coverage of the region, suppressing the existing gap. In fact, the current weather radar network, including two stations, one in Coruche and another one in Loulé, is not enough to ensure an adequate coverage of the northern region. The negative consequences of the present situation are the lack of additional support to safeguard lives and property in the region, especially critical under severe weather conditions, as well as the lack of coverage of the Porto International Airport and of the Douro river basin.
The weather radar system will incorporate the latest technological developments that are conferred by the ability to dual-polarization. The operational exploitation of the radar will
lead to significant improvements in meteorological and hydrometeorological monitoring in the northern region, as well in the field of Nowcasting and short-term hydrological
forecasting, with direct impacts on the Civil Protection System and in benefit of people and goods and on the development of a number of socio-economic activities.
This project is financed by FEDER funds, through the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2), specific regulation "Apoio a Infraestruturas Científicas e Tecnológicas", and by
the Portuguese Government.
Currently the contract for construction of the tower and provision of infrastructures for installation of the weather radar system is underway.