The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded an $8.7 million contract to the Enterprise Electronics Corporation, Enterprise, Ala., to build and install a Doppler weather radar system at a location northwest of Evansville, Ind. The new system will supplement weather radar coverage within the existing NOAA National Weather Service radar network.

Providing Doppler weather data coverage to a radius of 125 miles around the Evansville area, the new system will replace a leased radar unit. The radar unit's features include: color graphical displays and the capability to feed data directly into the national Doppler radar network.

Doppler radar helps meteorologists detect and track severe weather from the early rotations within a thunderstorm, which can signal the birth of a tornado or approaching snowstorm. The images and data from Doppler radar are key to issuing timely weather watches and warnings.

This fixed-price contract for the manufacture, installation and maintenance of the Doppler weather radar is for a 10-year period of performance.

For more information about the National Weather Service's Doppler radar network, visit: http://205.156.54.206/er/gyx/radar.htm.

NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The weather service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

To learn more about the weather service, please visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov.