Met Éireann applies for Pettigo weather radar tower to enhance weather accuracy

Met Éireann have applied to Donegal County Council for planning permission to construct a 30-metre high weather radar tower northeast of Pettigo, as part of a wider Irish Weather Network Modernisation Project.

The proposed radar tower would be situated on a site around Lough Fad Bog, located off the R232 between Pettigo and Laghey.

A section of forestry will be felled to facilitate the new weather radar tower, which will have a technical equipment room, a radome located at the top, and an equipment room located at the base.

The proposed tower would be 30 metres high and have a diameter of eight metres.

There would also be installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) array consisting of 24 solar panels on a fixed ground-mounted frame.

SCA Planning & Development Consultants, writing on behalf of Met Éireann, said: “The proposed radar forms part of a wider Irish Weather Network Modernisation Project and the location in Donegal has been identified as one of the five strategic locations suitable for the development of a weather radar as part of the modernised network across Ireland.”

READ NEXT: Central St Johnston property suffers overnight criminal damage

Other locations listed as part of the Irish Weather Network Modernisation Project include Cork, Kilkenny, Roscommon, and Meath.

According to SCA Planning, “This weather radar network expansion project is an essential step in Met Éireann’s efforts to continuously provide improved services to Irish society.

Weather radars are fundamental and necessary when formulating a national response to changing weather patterns and high-impact weather events, such as responding to the new challenges of climate change, as stated in the Programme for Government.

“The current radar network, which consists of two weather radars, located at Dublin and Shannon airports, does not provide the level of coverage sufficient to meet current and future needs.”

In conclusion, said the consultants, “These radars will significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of weather and climate monitoring across the country, supporting national resilience in the face of increasing climate variability and extreme weather events.

“With the approval of this application, Met Éireann will be enabled to continue delivering essential public services with improved regional coverage and national benefit.”