The latest hi-tech weather radar installed in Sunderland is set to help forecasters predict the weather more accurately.
This time-lapse video shows the state-of-the-art radar dish being installed in High Moorsley.
The Met Office promises the work to upgrade the network of radars across the UK will provide more accurate data and most importantly forecast when it will rain.
Richard Bennett, senior project manager at the Met Office said; “Scientific advances mean we can now capture the size and shape of raindrops as well as their composition, if it is ice, water or snow which will lead to improvements in accuracy of rainfall measurements, particularly during high impact weather events. The new radar network has also begun to capture wind speed measurements.”
The High Moorsley radar was the first in the North East and is part of the Met Office’s 30-year-old network - one of the longest established radar networks of its kind in the world.
Originally installed in 2009, the radar was the North East’s first and previously the region was covered in 5km squares by stations in Lancashire and Scotland.
The new technology is updated every five minutes and will allow forecasts for six hours in advance. It will be especially useful in identifying short, intense bursts of rain which often cause flash flooding and drain overflows, and which are likely to increase with climate change.
The North East radar will now give improved and detailed coverage of 2km squares in Northumberland and 1km in Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.