JACKSON COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -
Last week's storms knocked out the National Weather Service's radar in Jackson County.
They've been working feverishly for days to make repairs.
The National Weather Service in Huntsville said the radar in Jackson County, called Hytop radar, was hit by lightning last Thursday.
Meteorologist Chris Darden said a bolt of lightning struck the Hytop radar and phone lines connecting the radar to the National Weather Service Office in Huntsville.
Darden said the radar suffered extensive damage to circuit and electrical boards. Crews spent the past three days making repairs.
They are waiting to install an encoder board up in the tower. The piece was expected to arrive Monday.
Darden said this radar is important to weather coverage.
"Of course, it was installed here for the specific reason to analyze the lower levels of the atmosphere as storms approach and develop here in southern Tennessee and North Alabama. It's important we get it back to see more detail of what is going on," he said.
They are also hoping phone line service will be restored quickly. The radar is down until further notice.
Meantime, the National Weather Service is relying on a large network of Nexrad radars and local radar to monitor weather conditions.
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The Hytop radar in Jackson County was struck by lightning in last week's storms and is still being repaired.
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