New radar installation aims to close South Florida's low-level weather detection gap. By Kate Hussey Updated: 8 hours ago A new supplemental radar going up at the Fort Myers Public Safety Center is expected to be operational within days following a WPTV investigation that highlighted what radar experts said was a weather gap across Florida. WATCH BELOW: The installation is the first of four new radars planned for Florida by Climavision, the weather technology company working to close significant low-level radar coverage gaps across the state. Wednesday crews prepped for the installation at the Public Safety Center in Fort Myers. The radar is expected to be up and running within days. "Everybody got to touch the radar, have some technology conversations with some on our met team, really get to view it and see it before it goes and lives up on the roof, and also celebrate the public-private partnership that we have with Lee County and with other partners along the way," said Tara Goode, vice president of radar operations at Climavision. In May, WPTV reported on major gaps across Florida in low-level radar - the critical altitude for detecting tornadoes, flash flooding, and other dangerous storms. One of the state's largest gaps stretches from Lee County through Palm Beach and southern Martin counties. That report followed a previous WPTV investigation that found two failures during Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, 2024: emergency alerts that dozens of residents in western Palm Beach County said were never sent to their phones, and tornado warnings issued minutes too late in southern Martin County. Both areas fall inside the low-level radar gap. That same day, 126 tornado warnings were issued and at least 45 tornadoes struck southeast Florida. "If we can't see it, then we can't act on it. We can't plan for it. We can't prepare or respond," Goode said. Goode said the new Fort Myers radar will give forecasters a better view of storms moving toward the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County. "So as that weather, whatever the pattern is, moves into the state of Florida from the west side, that will give some visibility to forecasters to public safety who are you know closer to the east coast of Florida and need to understand what might be coming their way," Goode said. Goode said radar works in layers. Upper-level radar scans 10,000 feet and above, tracking storm structure. Mid-level radar covers around 6,000 feet. Low-level radar, near 3,000 feet, is the most critical tier for spotting flash flooding and tornadoes - and the one with the most gaps. Jason Hallstrom, executive director of Florida Atlantic University's Sensing Institute, previously told WPTV the gap carries real consequences. "When you have gaps, it takes longer for the underlying models to understand what is going to happen in those areas," Hallstrom said. Former National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Lamarre has also warned that new research shows tornadoes are forming closer to the ground, making low-level radar more important than ever. "As you go farther away from those radars, you're not seeing the lower level of the atmosphere," Lamarre said. "So therefore we're not going to see some of the tornadoes that may be spinning up in the lower levels of the atmosphere, some of the waterspouts that may come inland from the Gulf and actually do damage." The Fort Myers installation is the first of four new Climavision radars planned for Florida. One of those will be installed in Palm Beach County, potentially within the next year. Experts have been clear, however, that supplemental radar alone is not a complete solution. "Is it enough? Absolutely not," Hallstrom said. "I think it is a start. I think Florida needs many more than just four of these X-band weather radars across the area," Lamarre said. This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Climavision, a weather technology company deploying a proprietary observation network for utilities and energy traders, has appointed Jeff Woods as chief financial officer. Woods brings three decades of energy industry experience, including a tenure as managing director at JP Morgan. The appointment comes as utilities face mounting pressures from AI data centre electricity demand and increasing reliance on weather-dependent renewable energy sources. Climavision works with several energy clients, including CenterPoint Energy, which uses its radar network for storm warnings, and Enverus, which integrates its forecasts into energy trading platforms. Woods recently worked with power land developers on data centre site acquisition, providing insights into grid operator challenges. Climavision's observation network is expanding to 15 states and serves both commercial clients and public agencies, including the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.

Climavision brings on JP Morgan finance and energy industry veteran to scale energy market focus, combat grid volatility. New CFO Jeff Woods, with three decades of experience in energy markets, joins as Climavision scales with utilities facing AI demand and weather risk LOUISVILLE, KY, UNITED STATES, June 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ - Climavision, the weather technology company deploying a proprietary weather observation network and powering weather intelligence for utilities, energy traders and grid operators, has appointed Jeff Woods as Chief Financial Officer. Woods, a former JP Morgan managing director with three decades of experience across the energy industry, joins as the company builds on its work with CenterPoint Energy and Enverus and expands its partnerships with utility companies, traders, and the public sector. The energy sector is managing a convergence of pressures that make weather precision more operationally consequential than it has ever been. Wind and solar now account for a growing share of U.S. electricity generation, tying grid output directly to conditions that shift by the hour and by the mile. Electricity demand from AI data centers has also emerged as one of the most significant near-term threats to grid reliability, placing increased focus on hyper-local weather data that can increase both long- and short-term resilience. Climavision has been building its footprint in the energy industry since its founding in 2020 and works with several energy clients facing operational weather sensitivities, including CenterPoint Energy. CenterPoint integrates the company's radar network and hi-resolution, modeling and forecasting for advance warning of storms threatening grid infrastructure across the South so they can proactively protect their assets. Another landmark partnership is with energy trading platform Enverus, through which they provide hyper-local, long and short-term forecasts that enable traders to make more profitable decisions. "The energy industry is managing more complexity than it ever has before, including more extreme weather and increased demand pressure from data centers," said Chris Goode, CEO and Co-Founder of Climavision. "Jeff has spent his career at the intersection of capital allocation and the energy transition and he knows that precision weather data is now essential to managing these challenges. This experience and firsthand knowledge will be an asset to Climavision and our growing partners in the sector." In addition to his tenure as a managing director at JP Morgan, Woods has also worked alongside trading desks and quantitative science teams, directing capital toward renewable energy and building alternative fuels supply infrastructure. Recently, he worked extensively with power land developers on data center site acquisition, providing him with unique insights into the challenges grid operators and utilities are facing as more centers are constructed. "Grid operators, energy executives and traders are making decisions every minute that require accurate, hyperlocal data they can act on quickly and reliably," said Jeff Woods, CFO of Climavision. "Climavision's extensive radar network and AI-enhanced forecasts are custom-built to provide this accuracy, both long and short-term, that the industry now relies on." Climavision's proprietary observing network is expanding to 15 states. Data from this network not only informs energy decisions, but is also used by National Weather Service Weather Forecasting Offices to aid in warning and alerting decisions and is available to state and local agencies. Several public sector partners have already integrated this data into their operations, including the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. About Climavision Climavision brings together the power of a proprietary, high resolution supplemental weather radar network with its cutting-edge hi-resolution forecasting technology suite to close significant weather observation gaps and drastically improve forecast speed and accuracy. Climavision's revolutionary approach to climate technology is poised to help reduce the economic risks of volatile weather on companies, governments, and communities alike. Climavision is backed by The Rise Fund, the world's largest global impact platform committed to achieving measurable, positive social and environmental outcomes alongside competitive financial returns. The company is headquartered in Louisville, KY, with research and development operations in Raleigh, NC. To learn more, visit www.Climavision.com. Kieran Powell Climavision [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. Alternative Energy Reporter do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.