Radar glitches are causing problems during Wednesday’s severe weather, but meteorologists are not blind

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – On a day when southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi coast are threatened by a tornado, meteorologists have lost their most valuable resource: radar. But they are not completely blind.

The National Weather Service offices in New Orleans and Lake Charles have lost the ability to send radar data to all radars in southern Louisiana. This includes the radar location in Hammond which covers the entire New Orleans metro.

The NWS can still see the radar in their offices. They just lost the ability to push it out. That means they can still issue warnings and warnings in a timely manner.

The cause is unknown and there is no estimate that it will be repaired.

The data push that allows broadcast meteorologists to see radar also affects your ability to see radar on your phone. Most likely the last image you see is the last image published before communication was lost.

But meteorologists are not blind. While your phone may not be working, FOX 8 meteorologists can monitor radars just outside our area. A Tornado Warning was issued for the Bayou Beouf area Wednesday morning and the team used the Mobile, AL and Jackon MS radar locations.