Kimberley Farmers Face Challenges Without Weather Radar in Wet Season
Farmers and pastoralists in Western Australia’s Kimberley region are currently facing significant challenges due to the lack of weather radar coverage during the wet season. A crucial radar in Wyndham has been offline since it was struck by lightning on Christmas Day, causing considerable damage and expected to remain down for at least three months. This situation has raised concerns among agricultural businesses that rely heavily on accurate weather tracking.
The Impact of the Radar Outage
The absence of the Wyndham radar affects areas across Wyndham, Kununurra, Lake Argyle, and the lower Ord River, approximately 3,000 kilometers from Perth. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) confirmed that there is currently no radar coverage in the northeast Kimberley, which is pivotal for farmers and pastoralists making critical weather-dependent decisions.
- Wyndham radar offline for at least three months.
- Critical for tracking rainfall and thunderstorms.
- Farmers check radar data frequently during this time.
Farmers’ Concerns
Local farmer Matt Gray, from Ceres Farm in Kununurra, expressed his reliance on the radar, explaining that his team checks it multiple times throughout the day for planting, spraying, and fertilizing activities. The radar plays a vital role in optimizing limited opportunities during the wet season.
Alida Woodland, who manages Digger’s Rest Station with her husband Roderick, emphasized the safety risks involved without the radar. Recently, a powerful storm struck their area unexpectedly, causing damage to trees on their property. Woodland noted that the radar’s absence complicates routine tasks and increases the risk of costly errors, such as improper chemical applications.
Extended Regional Effects
The impact of the radar outage is not confined to the Kimberley. Nearby Waterloo Station in the Northern Territory, about 245 kilometers from Wyndham, also faces challenges. Station owner Hamish Brett highlighted his reliance on the radar for assessing safe river crossings during floods. He expressed frustration over the lack of backup systems to provide coverage during such outages.
Bureau of Meteorology Response
The Bureau of Meteorology is actively assessing the damage to the Wyndham radar. Meteorologist Jessica Lingard acknowledged the disruption experienced by local farmers and pastoralists. In the meantime, she advised accessing radar data from surrounding areas such as Halls Creek, Broome, and Darwin, as well as utilizing satellite imagery via the BOM website to monitor weather conditions.
Conclusion
The lack of weather radar in the Kimberley poses serious financial and safety risks for local agricultural operations. Farmers are left to navigate unpredictable weather conditions without the essential information that a functioning radar provides. As the wet season is a critical period for farming activities, restoring weather radar coverage is essential for the livelihoods of those in the region.
