New May Downs Rain Radar

The radar is situated 8km east of Mount Isa City on a hill just just off the Barkly Highway. The radar site is some 501m above sea level with the tower an additional 22m above ground level. The radar is ideally sited to provide meteorological coverage for the surrounding area, with an almost unobstructed view in all directions. The exception being an isolated obstruction to the SSE at all ranges due to the vicinity of a Telstra communications tower. This obstruction may affect rainfall detection in that direction but due to the isolated nature of the obstruction impact would be minor. There is also minor obstruction at a distance greater than 200km to the SE due to a section of the Selwyn Ranges south of Cloncurry. The radar is well sited for tracking of rain events including thunderstorms and rain bearing depressions. The radar provides partial coverage of the Nicholson & Gregory, Leichhardt, Flinders and Georgina river catchments. <a