10/27/2026
This will be a huge asset to Southeast Missouri!
JUST IN:
**$2 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING SECURED FOR NEW DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI**
A new Doppler weather radar system is coming to Southeast Missouri, bringing improved severe weather detection and earlier warnings to thousands of residents across the region.
State Representative Keith Elliott tells KWOC News that he worked with the Missouri Department of Public Safety to secure $2 million in state funding for a new regional Doppler weather radar system in the Van Buren area.
The project will also receive an additional $396,000 from the Delta Regional Authority, bringing the total funding to nearly $2.4 million.
For years, portions of Southeast Missouri have experienced gaps in regional radar coverage, making it more difficult to track dangerous storms.
The new radar system will help meteorologists detect storm rotation, wind speeds, precipitation, and even debris associated with tornadoes, potentially providing residents with more time to prepare for severe weather.
Officials say the radar will benefit approximately 329,000 residents across Southeast Missouri, including communities such as Dexter, Poplar Bluff, and Van Buren.
The radar station is expected to be located near Eastwood in Carter County, where officials have identified land that meets the elevation requirements for the system.
The City of Van Buren plans to purchase the property using state funding and hopes to begin accepting proposals from radar system providers by the end of the year.
The project is a combined effort involving Representative Elliott, the cities of Van Buren and Dexter, the Carter County Commission, regional planning commissions, and other partners.
Once completed, the radar system is expected to significantly improve severe weather monitoring and warning capabilities throughout Southeast Missouri.
