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The "Interceptor" 

The "Interceptor" From "Weather Lab"

The "Interceptor"  is a roof top mobile weather station on a aluminum frame.  The "Interceptor" was originally designed to intercept a particular cell or a line of storms approaching a city to get readings in order to alert other spotters as to the strength or  "punch" of a storm before it arrives at other spotter locations. This would give ample time to warn citizens, power companies and their personnel, along with area spotters if   necessary, as to wind speeds and or rain rate.


Although spotters are very accurate at estimating wind speeds and other weather variables, the "Interceptor" provides yet another source of data. This combination of data allows the your city's emergency management team to advise the citizens of your city of approaching    severe weather events but also allows the E.O.C. to supply the local N.W.S. with the most accurate weather information possible enabling warnings to be issued for your area with great confidence.
 

 


figure 1.

Looking at the "Interceptor" from the front of the car, one would notice that everything is located above the driver's side of the car (figure 1.) The reason is quite simple. Most spotters travel alone, therefore the "Interceptor" was designed so that one person could make all adjustments from the drivers side of the car quickly and easily.

One of the most unique features about the "Interceptor" is that it folds for either storage or for transport if so desired. As shown in figure 2. It is fine to transport in the upright position (especially if lighting is present) but the only drawback is that the operator must remember to reset the wind speed back to "0.00 MPH" after stopping and setting up at another location. Many prefer to transport in the folded position.
figure 2.


figure 3.

  

The "rain bucket" located on the rear of the "Interceptor" frame (figure 3.) is placed on a floating aluminum plate, which is equipped with a "bulls-eye" level. This enables the operator to quickly level the rain bucket for accurate measurements.
This information can be useful from the field is supplying the E.O.C. with rain rate per hour and total precipitation falling at a particular location.

 


figure 4.

      The anemometer (figure 4) is also a standard feature but instead of trying to use thousands of government dollars to engineer of how to make it point in a certain direction through mother boards, micro chips and so-forth, the "Interceptor" uses a simple "antenna rotor" to rotate the anemometer to the proper direction. (the anemometer is calibrated to the north or in other words, with the front of the car being north.)
 


figure 5.

      Finally, the most noticeable feature is the white PVC pipe (figure 5.). Inside the pipe is the t/h (temperature/humidity) sensor. This will also provide the current dew point at the "Interceptor's" location.
   At the bottom of the "pipe" is a exhaust fan.  This pulls a constant flow of air past the t/h sensor. This is of great assistance to get true ambient readings


figure 6.

        The "Control Pack" contains the electronics, fan control, rotor control and the Davis console. This is all packed inside an aluminum suitcase, as shown in figure 6, which can also be mounted on the "Interceptor" frame during storage.

 
The surprising information about the construction of the "Interceptor" is that the materials are available to the general public.

*For more information Contact John Utech at twister@kskc.net