The radar has an effective range of 250 kilometres, which covers most of southwestern British Columbia, including southern Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait, and Howe Sound. Its coverage also extends into northern Washington State, and over 150 kilometres west over the offshore waters of Vancouver Island. Ensuring the safety of all citizens is our priority.
Major storms can put people in peril and can seriously disrupt our regional economy.
With this system we will have better information and advance warning to prepare ourselves. Doppler radar provides meteorologists with the information needed to quickly and precisely detect and forecast severe weather such as thunderstorms, hail, strong winds and winter storms. In addition to measuring the intensity of precipitation such as rain or snow, Doppler radar also measures the movement of air within storms. This information, combined with other meteorological data, helps forecasters predict whether or not the conditions exist for severe local winds to develop. The Victoria Radar Doppler is the second Doppler radar that Environment Canada has installed in British Columbia and one of four planned for the province.