Upgrading weather services for the Canterbury region and beyond

MetService Canterbury Weather Radar Tower

New Zealand’s national weather radar network plays an essential role in public safety. When MetService’s Canterbury Weather Radar was due for an upgrade, they engaged us to design the solution.

We’ve designed 6 of MetService’s 10 radar towers throughout the country, plus the upgrade of the existing Wellington weather radar. Each site has presented its own challenges for the designers, with different heights, geology, and access requirements.

Rather than improving the existing concrete block tower, which didn’t meet current seismic requirements, our team designed a new 19-metre tall steel replacement. We provided geotechnical, structural, planning, and management, surveillance, quality, and assurance (MSQA) services for the Canterbury Weather Radar project. The new tower provides a more resilient site, and the new radar on top brings enhanced capabilities and services to surrounding communities, especially during severe weather events. The radar uses the latest dual polarisation technology to identify different types of precipitation, be it rain, hail, or snow.

Located just south of Rakaia, this radar site provides over 300 kilometres of coverage, encompassing the entire Canterbury region, the central Southern Alps, and parts of Marlborough and Otago. MetService’s meteorologists use it to enhance weather forecasting and severe weather warning services for central South Island communities, aviation, and civil defence agencies.