Met Éireann’s plans to build a 36 metre high weather radar station in West Roscommon have been given the go-ahead by Roscommon County Council.
The Roscommon Herald is reporting that the national forecaster has been granted planning permission to construct the radar tower featuring a protective radome at the top and an equipment room located at its base.
The weather station will be located in Coillte forestry on a three and a half acre site at Cloonerkaun, Cloonfad and measure a total of 36 metres in height and eight metres in diameter.
The development will also include the installation of 24 solar panels on a fixed ground-mounted frame.
In the original planning application, Met Éireann’s said that weather radars are fundamental and necessary when preparing a national response to changing weather patterns and high impact weather events.
The Roscommon weather radar station is one of five towers being proposed nationally with the others to be located in Donegal, Meath, Kilkenny and Cork.
Met Éireann’s points out that the current network consisting of two radars at Dublin and Shannon airports does not provide the level of coverage sufficient to meet current and future needs.
The forecaster said that local stakeholders such as local authorities, emergency services and communities will be able to plan effectively and efficiently by using data from these radars.
