There are some new tools being installed locally which will help your First Warn 8 Weather Team provide more accurate forecasts and analysis.

Some of the most cutting edge technology in radars today will be coming to the western slope in the near future.

"We're very excited about it. The offices across the country that have already upgraded and we're learning more about the capabilities of the radar. It looks like over the next five to ten years, we're going to learn that this tool is more powerful than we had at first anticipated" said Ellen Heffernan, NWS Meteorologist.

New upgrades are being installed on the Grand Mesa that will help forecasters all across the western slope.

This new technology for the National Weather Service includes a new dimension in which the radar beams are sent out and received, which is a major improvement in how radar data is collected.

"Right now with the old radars and the old technology, the pulse comes out polarized in a horizontal fashion. With the dual polarization, we'll have a pulse in the horizontal and then also a pulse in the vertical" explained Heffernan.

These new pulses will help forecast for rainfall, especially when it comes to river forecasting and thunderstorms.

"With this upgrade, we'll have a much better idea of the intensity of the rainfall and if there's hail within it. And if its very heavy rain, that could lead to better forecasting of flash flooding. If its large hail, we can get that word out to the public for say a severe thunderstorms" said Heffernan.

All that means better forecasts, more accurate information, and keeping people in western Colorado safer and better prepared for what Mother Nature has in store.

The engineers and technicians have been working on the upgrade all this week and will continue next week.  The upgrade should be completed by the first of next month.