National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

 A joint news conference was held on February 15, 2013 at the Jackson MS National Weather Service office to announce the dedication of the dual polarization upgrade to the Brandon/Jackson MS radar. The event was organized by NOAA Public Affairs, in collaboration with the office of U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and was attended by Senator Wicker, NWS Jackson MS Meteorologist-In-Charge Alan Gerard and MEMA Director Robert Latham. The new dual polarization technology formally dedicated today was critical in determining the intensity and destructive potential of the tornadoes that tore across south Mississippi counties on Sunday, February 10th, 2013.

Both U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) have addressed the importance of the weather radar upgrade in Mississippi. Their public statement regarding this new technology can be found here.

Photos of the Event
Click on the thumbnails below for a larger image.