Radar Next Program Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a new program to replace the country's aging weather radar system with modern technology. The goal is to provide more accurate and faster information about rain, snow, and severe storms across the United States and its territories.
• The plan focuses on fixing "blind spots" in the current network. It specifically targets areas that are more than 75 miles away from current radar stations or where mountains block the signal, ensuring people in rural or rugged areas get better weather warnings.
• The government will test new types of technology, like phased array radar and smaller "gap-filling" radars. These tools can track storms more precisely than the older systems used today, which could lead to earlier warnings for tornadoes and floods.
• The bill allows the National Weather Service to partner with private companies to buy weather data. This "Radar-As-A-Service" model helps the government get the information it needs without always having to build and own every single radar tower.
• The project has a long-term timeline, with a goal to have the new system fully up and running by September 30, 2040. Officials will work with meteorologists, emergency managers, and local leaders to decide where the new radars should go first.