I’m writing in reference to the article about the Four Corners’ weather radar blind spot (Journal, June 3). The illustration on the front page shows the lowest radar return to be 10,000 feet above Cortez. In the article, Jim Pringle, with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, is quoted saying the radar’s lowest reach is 23,000 feet above Cortez. That’s quite a difference. I wonder which is correct?
Several years ago, the National Weather Service spent many thousands of dollars upgrading their radars around the nation, including the one in Grand Junction. I wrote them suggesting the money could be better spent putting in additional radars to fill in some of their blind spots. I specifically noted the bad blind spot we have in the 4 Corners area, even though we have airports in Cortez and Durango and good coverage is important.
I also mentioned there is no radar coverage at all in places like Shiprock. I suggested filling in important blind spots would be better than upgrading existing coverage. They disagreed with my assessment. I guess none of them live here.
Rick Corbitt
Dolores
